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A molecularly imprinted film was fabricated, in the presence of epitope-peptides, onto a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) chip. These five peptides are known linear or conformational epitopes of the anthrax protective antigen [PA.sub.83]. Imprinting resulted in an epitope-cavity with affinity for the corresponding template. With the use of a basic monomer, the binding-effect was further enhanced increasing the affinity to nanomolar levels. The affinities of the peptide to their corresponding molecularly induced polymers (MIPs) were more closely related to the molecular weight of the analyte than to the number of residues. All epitope-cavities differentiated their epitope region on the protective antigen [PA.sub.83] as well as the corresponding furin cleavage fragments [PA.sub.63] and [PA.sub.20]. The QCM chip differential response to the protective antigen fragment was observed in the picomolar range, thus demonstrating a method to manipulate protein on the surface with defined orientation. 10.1021/ac9024158

Bacillus anthracis is a spore-forming bacterium that causes anthrax in humans and in other mammals. The glycoprotein BclA (Bacillus collagen-like protein of anthracis) is a major constituent of the exosporium, the outermost surface of B. anthracis spores. The glycosyl part of BclA is an oligosaccharide composed of 2-O-methyl-4-(3-hydroxy-3-methylbutanamido)-4,6-dideoxy-o-glucose, referred to as anthrose, and three rhamnose residues. A structure similar to anthrose, 4-(3-hydroxy-3-methylbutanamido)-4,6-dideoxy-D-glucose is found in the side chain of the capsular polysaccharide (CPS) of Shewanella spp. MR-4. Under certain growth conditions the bacteria produce a variant CPS lacking one methyl group on the hydroxybutyrate, 4-(3-hydroxybutanamido)-4,6-dideoxy-D-glucose. Contrary to anthrose, neither of the Shewanella CPSs is 2-0 methylated. Here, we report that both Shewanella CPS variants react with anti-B, anthracis spore sera. We also found that these antisera reacted with flagellae of Pseudomonas syringae, reported to be glycosylated with a similar terminal saccharide, 4-(3-hydroxybutanamido)-4,6-dideoxy-2-O-methyl-D-glucose. Sera produced by immunization with Shewanella or P. syringae cells bound to B. anthracis spores but not to Bacillus cereus spores in a fluorescent microscopy assay. These experiments show that methylation of the anthrose at the 0-2 of the sugar ring and at the C-3 of 3-hydroxybutyrate are not essential for induction of cross-reactive antibodies. We report the preparation, characterization, and antibody responses to protein conjugates of the two variants of Shewanella CPS. Both conjugates induced antibodies that bound to both Shewanella CPS variants by ELISA and to B. anthracis spores, as detected by fluorescent microscopy. We propose the use of Shewanella CPS conjugates as a component of an anthrax vaccine. anthrose | capsule | pseudomonas syringae | shewanella | flagellae

We developed a mathematical model to compare 2 indoor remediation strategies in the aftermath of an outdoor release of 1.5 kg of anthrax spores in lower Manhattan. The 2 strategies [...]

Soap and water, 2% chlorhexidine gluconate, and chlorine-containing towels were all effective in removing spores of the bacterium Bacillus atrophaeus from hands. A waterless rub containing alcohol was not effective in removing spores. This bacterium, formerly called Bacillus subtilis, is related to the bacterium that causes anthrax. It is less susceptible to disinfectants than the anthrax bacterium, so these disinfectants should also remove anthrax spores from hands.

On November 19, 2001, a case of inhalational anthrax was identified in a 94-year-old Connecticut woman, who later died. We conducted intensive surveillance for additional anthrax cases, which included collecting [...]

In October 2001, two inhalational anthrax and four cutaneous anthrax cases, resulting from the processing of Bacillus anthracis--containing envelopes at a New Jersey mail facility, were identified. Subsequently, we initiated [...]

In October 2001, four cases of inhalational anthrax occurred in workers in a Washington, D.C., mail facility that processed envelopes containing Bacillus anthracis spores. We reviewed the envelopes' paths and [...]

A two-component direct fluorescent-antibody (DFA) assay, using fluorescein-labeled monoclonal antibodies specific to the Bacillus anthracis cell wall (CW-DFA) and capsule (CAP-DFA) antigens, was evaluated and validated for rapid identification of [...]

After reports of the intentional release of Bacillus anthracis in the United States, epidemiologists, laboratorians, and clinicians around the world were called upon to respond to widespread political and public [...]

At least four Bacillus anthracis-containing envelopes destined for New York City and Washington, D.C. were processed at the Trenton Processing and Distribution Center (PDC) on September 18 and October 9, [...]

On October 12, 2001, two envelopes containing Bacillus anthracis spores passed through a sorting machine in a postal facility in Washington, D.C. When anthrax infection was identified in postal workers [...]

On October 15, 2001, a U.S. Senate staff member opened an envelope containing Bacillus anthracis spores. Chemoprophylaxis was promptly initiated and nasal swabs obtained for all persons in the immediate [...]

The index case of inhalational anthrax in October 2001 was in a man who lived and worked in Florida. However, during the 3 days before illness onset, the patient had [...]

In October 2001, the first inhalational anthrax case in the United States since 1976 was identified in a media company worker in Florida. A national investigation was initiated to identify [...]

On October 4, 2001, we confirmed the first bioterrorism-related anthrax case identified in the United States in a resident of Palm Beach County, Florida. Epidemiologic investigation indicated that exposure occurred [...]

On Thursday, October 4, 2001, just 24 days after the tragic events of September 11, the Florida Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed [...]

The risk of anthrax can be reduced through international collaboration in health education and training, promotion of research, and provision of scientific and technical advice. These issues were discussed by a WHO Working Group on Anthrax in September 1995, and this Memorandum presents their priority concerns and recommendations in several areas: surveillance, epidemiology, diagnosis in humans and in animals, prevention and control, and international cooperation., Introduction Anthrax is enzootic in many countries in Africa and Asia, and in a number of industrialized countries, and is sporadic in many others[1]. The main source of human infection [...]

The need to address unexpected medical occurrences like inhalational anthrax among others is highlighted. The Project Bioshield Act of 2004 has been designed to create stocks of therapeutic drugs and vaccines to address the problem in the event of an outbreak.

A new rapid and label-free biosensor integrated with robust peptide ligands is developed and used for the detection and investigation of various anthrax-causing spores. The methodology provides a simple and inexpensive approach for rapid and accurate detection of pathogens and bioterrorism agents.