New discovery in the lab halts anthrax
highly effective in stopping the progress of anthrax infection,
further developing reliable treatments to diagnose this killer
microorganism.
The scientists believe this discovery is especially valuable because the anthrax bacterium is widely regarded as a potential bioterrorism weapon.
The team have identified an enzyme that is involved in the multiplication of the bacteria and isolated a substance - N-hydroxylamine - that interrupts its function, stopping the growth of any anthrax infection.
The new research, happening at the University of Stockholm, reveals that it may be possible to find substances that effectively knock out corresponding enzymes in other pathogenic organisms.
"The fact that we have identified a chemically simple and commercially available substance with these properties is of great significance both practically and in terms of further research," said Professor Britt-Marie Sjöberg, Department of Molecular Biology and Functional Genomics.
Spores of the bacterium Bacillus anthracis cause anthrax. B. anthracis is considered to be one of the top (CDC Category A) biothreat agents by the US government. The bacteria secrete toxins that paralyse the immune system, damage tissues and lead to death.
Bacillus anthracis, can develop into full-blown anthrax in the lungs very rapidly and must be stopped as quickly as possible. Combining the substance N-hydroxylamine with ordinary antibiotics that work more slowly can do this.
When people are exposed in an anthrax attack, antibiotic treatment alone is not enough. Vaccination takes a long time to achieve protection, and it is the toxins, not the bacteria, that kill.
A number of US biotechnology companies are currently undertaking research into Anthrax therapies. Human Genome Sciences and Elusys Therapeutics, have developed similar anti-anthrax drugs, Abtrax and ETI-204 respectively.
The drugs are artificial antibodies, or proteins that mimic the natural proteins made by the body to fight off invading germs.
Anthrax antibodies, though potentially useful, share one of the main disadvantages of current treatment with antibiotics in that its effectiveness appears to drop off rapidly the later they are administered in the course of the disease.
