Bacilli, anthrax

Virulent bacteria Food and environmental samples 1000 cells mL-1 (Escherichia coll 0157, Salmonella, Bacillus anthrax spores)... 

A resent report (P) indicated that kombucha processes potent antioxidant and inununopotentiating activities. It helps in excretion of chromium from body tissues. The strong antioxidant activity decreases peroxidation, enhances antibody titers and delays hypersensitivity response in control (chromium treated) rat. However, there has been a lot of attention regarding the possible toxicity of kombucha tea. The presence of Bacillus anthrax in kombucha tea fermented in unhygienic conditions has been reported (IG). Gastrointestinal toxicity of kombucha has also occurred in four patients (ll). Recent FDA studies found no evidence of contamination in kombucha products fermented under sterile conditions. FDA and State of California inspections of the facilities of a major Kombucha tea supplier also found diat its product was being manufrictured under sanitary conditions. 

Bacillus anthracis, the causative organism of anthrax, possesses a capsule composed of polyglutamic acid the slime layers produced by other organisms are of a carbohydrate nature. 

Slow-acting, noncontagious Bacillus anthracis (anthrax) Flu-like symptoms <7 days... 

Bacterial agents, such as Bacillus anthracis (the causative agent for anthrax), or Yersinia pestis (the causative agent for plague). 

Events involving deliberate or accidental distribution of bacterial pathogens into our everyday environment have clearly defined the need for a sensitive, specific, and rapid method of bacterial detection. Bioterrorism was first introduced in the United States in 1984 with the Salmonella typhimurium attack in The Dalles, Oregon, by a cult group attempting to affect a local election.1 As a result of this act 751 people contracted salmonellosis, which totally overwhelmed the hospitals and medical clinics with patients. Later our society became keenly aware of the potential of bioterrorism during the last four months of 2001 when Bacillus anthracis (anthrax) spores were sent through the US mail in an envelope to several locations. These events had... 

Many diseases, including anthrax, are most effectively treated before actual manifestation of the symptoms is observed. Presently a presumptive identification of Bacillus anthracis can be made in about 3 hours however, if a full laboratory response network (LRN) confirmation procedure is utilized, the theoretical time increases substantially to approximately 48 hours. During the recent anthrax cases 72 to 96 hours were common to complete the entire LRN protocol. In the meantime antibiotics were administered as a precaution based on the presumptive results to individuals thought to be exposed to B. anthracis spores or with anthrax symptoms. The mass administering of antibiotics from a cost standpoint, as well as from medical prudence to prevent the rise of antibiotic-resistant strains, is not the optimal answer to the anthrax infection problem. Therefore it is important that early tests be rapid and reliable with a minimum number of false positive and false negative results. 

Abshire,T. G. Brown, J. E. Teska, J. D. Ezell, J. W. Validation of the use of gamma phage for identifying bacillus anthracis. 4th International Conference on Anthrax, Annapolis, MD 2001. 

Bacillus anthracis Not published yet Anthrax first use of proven bioterrorism in the United States... 

Polysaccharides of Corynebacterium diphtheriae yield D-galactose, pentoses and amino sugars on hydrolysis.79 D-Glucose and D-mannose are major hydrolytic products of the polysaccharide of Clostridium perfringens.80 Complete hydrolysis81 of the polysaccharide of the anthrax bacillus yielded acetyl-D-glucosamine and D-galactose. 

Schneerson R, Kubler-Kielb J, Liu TY et al (2003) Poly(y-D-glutamic acid) protein conjugates induce IgG antibodies in mice to the capsule of Bacillus anthracis a potential addition to the anthrax vaccine. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 100 8945-8950... 

The anthrax bioterrorist attacks that followed the events of September 11th 2001 resulted in a renewed interest BadUus anthracis, the causative agent of this disease. Research has focused on the development of better vaccines than the one currently available. It has been estimated that the aerosolized release of 100 kg of anthrax spores upwind of Washington DC would cause mortalities of 130,000-3,000,000 [63]. Nonetheless, wild-type Bacillus anthracis is susceptible to conventional antibiotics, including penicillin, oxyfloxacin and ciprofloxacin. The problem lies not with the bacterial infection itself, but with three proteins released by the bacteria - protective antigen (PA, 83 kDa), lethal factor (LF, 90 kDa) and edema factor (EF, 89 kDa) -known as anthrax toxins [63]. 

More recently, anthrax has been used as a biological weapon in the United States and a total of 22 cases were identified. Six fatalities occurred due to inhalation of the causal agent, Bacillus anthracis. Use of microorganisms for agroterrorism as well as infection of companion animals, and the potential development of genetically engineered agents have made the twenty-first century more vulnerable than past centuries. 

Anthrax Among Decontamination/Cleanup Workers Responding to an Intentional Distribution of Bacillus anthracis... 

Decontamination/cleanup workers working in environments known to be contaminated with Bacillus anthracis spores may be at risk for inhalational anthrax. These workers should wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and follow appropriate procedures, as outlined in other CDC Guidance documents. 

E.T. Arakawa, N.V. Lavrik and P.G. Datskos, Detection of anthrax stimulants with microcalorimetric spectroscopy Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus cereus spores, Appl. Opt., 42 (2003) 1757-1762. 

The LF is the most disruptive to cellular functions and disables intracellular signaling molecules. It prevents macrophages from releasing tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin cytokines, although the production of TNF and cytokines in the macrophages is not impeded. The host s immune system is compromised and is unable to eliminate the anthrax bacillus. 

Lethal toxin Bacillus anthracis Binary MAPKK Cell death Anthrax... 

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