title: Bacillus anthracis infections--new possibilities of treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Bacillus anthracis is one of biological agents which may be used in bioterrorism attacks. The aim of this study a review of the new treatment possibilities of anthrax, with particular emphasis on the treatment of pulmonary anthrax. Abbreviated description of the state of knowledge. Pulmonary anthrax, as the most dangerous clinical form of the disease, is also extremely difficult to treat. Recently, considerable progress in finding new drugs and suitable therapy for anthrax has been achieved, for example, new antibiotics worth to mentioning, levofloxacin, daptomycin, gatifloxacin and dalbavancin. However, alternative therapeutic options should also be considered, among them the antimicrobial peptides, characterized by lack of inducible mechanisms of pathogen resistance. Very promising research considers bacteriophages lytic enzymes against selected bacteria species, including antibiotic-resistant strains.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Interesting results were obtained using monoclonal antibodies: raxibacumab, cAb29 or cocktails of antibodies. The application of CpG oligodeoxynucleotides to boost the immune response elicited by Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed and CMG2 protein complexes, also produced satisfying therapy results. Furthermore, the IFN-α and IFN-β, PA-dominant negative mutant, human inter-alpha inhibitor proteins and LF inhibitors in combination with ciprofloxacin, also showed very promising results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Recently, progress has been achieved in inhalation anthrax treatment. The most promising new possibilities include: new antibiotics, peptides and bacteriophages enzymes, monoclonal antibodies, antigen PA mutants, and inter alpha inhibitors applications. In the case of the possibility of bioterrorist attacks, the examination of inhalation anthrax treatment should be intensively continued.
authors.affiliation: Biological Threats Identification and Countermeasure Centre, Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Puławy, Poland.
authors.forename: Dorota
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Żakowska
authors.affiliation: Biological Threats Identification and Countermeasure Centre, Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Puławy, Poland.
authors.forename: Michał
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bartoszcze
authors.affiliation: Biological Threats Identification and Countermeasure Centre, Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Puławy, Poland.
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Niemcewicz
authors.affiliation: Biological Threats Identification and Countermeasure Centre, Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Puławy, Poland.
authors.forename: Agata
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bielawska-Drózd
authors.affiliation: Warsaw Medical University, Department of Epidemiology, Institute of Social Medicine, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Józef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Knap
authors.affiliation: Biological Threats Identification and Countermeasure Centre, Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Puławy, Poland.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cieślik
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Chemistry and New Techonlogies, Military University of Technology, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chomiczewski
authors.affiliation: Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Janusz
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kocik
mesh_terms: D000881:Anthrax / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001408:Bacillus anthracis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents