Blood Component That Turns Anthrax Bacteria Virulent Identified Nov 23, 2008
22, 2008) Scientists from the Scripps Research Institute have discovered the key chemical that signals Bacillus anthracis, the bacterium that causes anthrax, to become lethal ... The Scripps Research scientists identified bicarbonate, a chemical found in all body fluids and organs that plays a major role in maintaining pH balance in cells, as providing the signal for Bacillus anthracis to unleash virulence factors ... In addition to Perego and Wilson, the other authors of "The bicarbonate... (Science Daily)
Scripps research scientists identify blood component that turns bacteria virulent Nov 22, 2008
LA JOLLA, CA, November 20, 2008Scientists from the Scripps Research Institute have discovered the key chemical that signals Bacillus anthracis, the bacterium that causes anthrax, to become lethal ... The Scripps Research scientists identified bicarbonate, a chemical found in all body fluids and organs that plays a major role in maintaining pH balance in cells, as providing the signal for Bacillus anthracis to unleash virulence factors ... In addition to Perego and Wilson, the other authors of... (EurekAlert!)
Drum skin plea at anthrax inquiry Nov 21, 2008
Anthrax is caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis. It most commonly occurs in animals such as cattle, sheep and goats, but can also occur in humans when they are exposed to infected animals. (BBC News)
How dangerous is drum making? Nov 4, 2008
Spores Bacillus anthracis organism produces spores that exist in the environment, often in soilInhalation Humans exposed to animal skins may breathe in the spores, but cannot pass on to other humans Trachea Larger spores lodge in throat and windpipe Lungs Some spores are destroyed by immune system, but smaller ones may penetrate alveoli within lungs Consequences If untreated, flu-like symptoms are followed by severe breathing difficulties, blood poisoning and shock, usually fatal. Anthrax is a... (BBC News -- UK)
Nature study demonstrates that bacterial clotting depends on clustering Nov 3, 2008
This research used Bacillus anthracis, the anthrax-causing pathogen (using a safe strain that does not infect humans). It found that in the case of human blood, coagulation required the secretion of zinc metalloprotease InhA1, which activated prothrombin and factor X directlynot via factor XII or tissue-factor pathways. (EurekAlert!)
Zimbabwe: Cholera Outbreak Spreads to Rural Areas Oct 21, 2008
Anthrax is caused by the bacterium, Bacillus anthracis, and mostly affects wild animals and domesticated cattle, although it can be transferred to humans through inhalation of the bacteria's spores from a live or infected dead animal, blood contact if the skin is broken, or by eating the undercooked meat of a diseased animal. Anthrax is curable if diagnosed early. (allAfrica.com)
Seven Years Later: Electrons Unlocked Post-9/11 Anthrax Mail Mystery Sep 20, 2008
When materials scientist Joseph Michael and his team at in Albuquerque, N.M., trained their high-powered on spore samples the FBI had sent them in February 2002, they made two crucial discoveries: The first confirmed previous findings that the Bacillus anthracis spores mailed to U.S. Senate offices and various media outlets (shortly after the September 11 terrorist attacks) contained silicon, a substance used to turn anthrax-causing spores into a biological weapon ... Using highly sensitive... (Scientific American)
FBI STATEMENT: Science Briefing on the Anthrax Investigation Aug 25, 2008
After nearly seven years of investigation we have developed a body of powerful evidence that allows us to conclude that we have identified the origin and the perpetrator of the 2001 bacillus anthracis mailings ... It is the forensic information that determined the source of the 2001 bacillus anthracis mailings to be derived from a unique pool of spore preparations known as RMR-1029 that was maintained at U.S. Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Maryland... (USA Today -- Tech)
FBI explains the science behind the anthrax investigation Aug 25, 2008
"After nearly seven years of investigation we have developed a body of powerful evidence that allows us to conclude that we have identified the origin and the perpetrator of the 2001 bacillus anthracis mailings," Majidi said in a opening statement. He then took questions. (USA Today -- Tech)
FBI Unveils Science Of Anthrax Investigation Aug 22, 2008
Most people did not know that the work in Ray Goehner s materials characterization department at Sandia National Laboratories was contributing important information to the FBI s investigation of letters containing bacillus anthracis, the spores that cause the disease anthrax ... Sandia s work demonstrated to the FBI that the form of bacillus anthracis contained in those letters was not a weaponized form, a form of the bacteria prepared to disperse more readily ... When bacillus anthracis spores... (Science Daily)
Suspect remembered for humor, intelligence Aug 10, 2008
Bacillus anthracis spores, which cause the infectious disease Anthrax, in an undated photomicrograph by the U.S Department of Defense. (Anthrax Vaccine Immunization Program, Getty Images) FREDERICK, Md. (WKRC.com, OH)
Microbiologist: Anthrax suspect was stalker Aug 10, 2008
This undated image attached to an email sent on Nov. 14, 2001, by Bruce Ivins shows the Army scientist handling "cultures of the now infamous 'Ames' strain of Bacillus anthracis" at his lab, according to the text of the message. . (MSNBC -- Politics)
Anthrax Case Raises Doubt On Security Aug 9, 2008
An estimated 14,000 scientists and technicians at about 400 institutions have clearances to access viruses and bacteria such as the Bacillus anthracis used in the anthrax attacks, but security procedures vary by facility, and oversight of the labs is spread across multiple government agencies. Screening for the researchers handling some of the world's deadliest germs is not as strict as that for national security jobs in the FBI and CIA, federal officials said. (Washington Post -- Technology)
FBI to Show How Genetics Led to Anthrax Researcher Aug 8, 2008
Laboratories and researchers involved in the work under FBI contracts signed agreements not to discuss their contributions, but some relevant insights have emerged in scientific papers published over the past six years as work progressed on decoding the genetic composition of Bacillus anthracis, the anthrax bacterium. Still, many details of the FBI's work remain fuzzy. (Washington Post -- Technology)
Anthrax on Turner's ranch Aug 7, 2008
The disease springs from Bacillus anthracis, a bacteria that occurs in the soil and can lie dormant for decades. Drought, followed by heavy rainfall, often triggers an outbreak. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
Prosecutor seeks release of anthrax documents Aug 6, 2008
Bacillus anthracis spores, which cause the infectious disease Anthrax, in an undated photomicrograph by the U.S Department of Defense. (Anthrax Vaccine Immunization Program, Getty Images) WASHINGTON (AP) - A federal prosecutor has arrived at a U.S. courthouse in Washington as the Justice Department begins the process of unsealing documents in the investigation of anthrax mailings that killed five people. (FOX23.com, OK)
The basics of anthrax Aug 5, 2008
The disease results from a bacterium called Bacillus anthracis ... Anthrax infetions result from bacteria called Bacillus anthracis ... Anthrax comes from a bacterium called Bacillus anthracis, and infection can come in one of three forms: cutaneous (also called skin), inhalation (lung), and gastrointestinal(digestive). (CNN -- Health)
ANSWERS: Anthrax and the investigation decoded Aug 4, 2008
A: Anthrax, or bacillus anthracis, is a bacteria that can infect the skin, the digestive system or the lungs. The bacteria contain two deadly toxins. (USA Today)
Anthrax investigation leaves lingering doubts Aug 3, 2008
He also is known to have had ready access to the specific strain of Bacillus anthracis used in the attack - a strain found to match samples found in Ivins' lab, he said. "You could make it in a week," the expert said. (Cleveland.com -- News)
All About Anthrax Aug 3, 2008
Anthrax is an acute infectious disease caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis. Anthrax most commonly occurs in wild and domestic lower vertebrates (cattle, sheep, goats, camels, antelopes, and other herbivores), but it can also occur in humans when they are exposed to infected animals or tissue from infected animals. (WNBC.com, NY)
Anthrax lethal in lungs: Experts Aug 3, 2008
The spores that cause anthrax, Bacillus anthracis, occur widely in soil, and the skin form of the infection used to be common, especially among livestock and people who work with the animals. It can be treated with antibiotics. (India Times, India)
Scientist in anthrax case had darker side Aug 2, 2008
He was part of a response team that analyzed the handwritten letter sent to then senator Tom Daschle packed with Bacillus anthracis spores that matched the primary strain used in Fort Detrick research and had been used in the US biological weapons program until the 1970s. There was concern that the letter had not been securely handled in the labs, and that some of the lethal spores might have escaped into the atmosphere. (Boston Globe)
As feds closed in, scientist snapped Aug 2, 2008
As a researcher for the Army's main lab for studying bioterror agents, Ivins had easy access to anthrax bacteria, including the specific strain of bacillus anthracis used in the attacks on media outlets and congressional offices in the fall of 2001. His expertise eventually earned him a front-row seat for the FBI's investigation. (News & Observer)
25 bison dead of anthrax at Ted Turner’s Montana ranch Aug 1, 2008
Anthrax, caused by the bacteria Bacillus anthracis, occurs naturally in Montana and many other locations worldwide. As part of their lifecycle, the bacteria can enter a spore phase and remain viable, although dormant, for decades in soil. (Montana Standard, MT)
Anthrax scientist commits suicide as FBI closes in Aug 1, 2008
Bacillus anthracis vegetative cells and spores, which cause the infectious disease Anthrax, in a monkey spleen in an undated photomicrograph from the U.S Department of Defense ... Bacillus anthracis spores, which cause the infectious disease Anthrax, in an undated photomicrograph by the U.S Department of Defense. (FOX23.com, OK)
Anthrax kills 25 bison on Turner's ranch Jul 31, 2008
Anthrax is caused by a naturally occurring bacteria, Bacillus anthracis, which can lie dormant in the soil for decades. It can become active when heavy rains follow drought. (Montana Standard, MT)
Bison dead of anthrax at Ted Turner's ranch Jul 31, 2008
Anthrax, caused by the bacteria Bacillus anthracis, occurs naturally in Montana and many other locations worldwide. As part of their life cycle, the bacteria can enter a spore phase and remain viable, although dormant, for decades in soil. (Missoulian, MT)
Anthrax vigil around Gir sanctuary Jun 16, 2008
It is caused by the bacterium bacillus anthracis which is highly lethal in some forms. The department is concerned about the safety of wild animals in the park which also houses Asiatic lions, said Principal Secretary to the department Sudeep Kumar Nanda. (Sify.com, India)
Gujarat village declared anthrax-hit Jun 15, 2008
It is caused by the bacterium bacillus anthracis which is highly lethal in some forms. About half a dozen animals had died in the village recently and their samples were sent for testing, he added. (Sify.com, India)
Tests show LLNL detection instrument can monitor the air for all major terrorist threat substances Jun 13, 2008
In lab experiments, SPAMS was tested against four types of materials terrorists might use -- spores of a non-pathogenic strain of Bacillus anthracis (other strains of this bacteria cause anthrax); diethyl phthalate (a nerve agent surrogate), natural cobalt powder (a surrogate for Cobalt 60 and other radioactive metals) and trinitro-1,3,5-triazinane (RDX, a high explosive) ... The two multiple-agent tests involved the use of natural cobalt powder and RDX, and a non-pathogenic strain of Bacillus... (EurekAlert!)
FBI: Oregon man sent anthrax threat signed 'Love, Beezulbub' May 3, 2008
Court papers noted that in October 2001 letters were mailed that did in fact contain Bacillus anthracis, which causes the anthrax disease, resulting in several deaths. On June 6, 2005, a letter with powder arrived at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in Hyattsville, Md. (KGW Northwest NewsChannel 8, OR)
NIST, Army researchers pave the way for anthrax spore standards Apr 16, 2008
Bacillus anthracis, the bacterium that causes anthrax, has been a centuries-old threat to human health ... Because sample stability is a key requirement for reference materials, NIST and Army researchers recently compared different methods for measuring the concentration, biological activity and stability of laboratory-grade Bacillus anthracis spores under different storage conditions ... Bacillus anthracis (Sterne), a harmless vaccine strain, was used in the study. (EurekAlert!)
Nose Spray Anthrax Vaccine Effective In Tests Apr 12, 2008
Anthrax is caused by Bacillus anthracis, a bacterium that forms seed-like structures called spores capable of reproducing the organism despite tremendous punishment ... Given these questions, vaccine designers worldwide have been seeking to design a vaccine made up of a more precise combination of the Bacillus anthracis antigens ... Under a very high magnification of 31,207X, this scanning electron micrograph (SEM) depicted spores from the Sterne strain of Bacillus anthracis bacteria. (Science Daily)
Black Tea Could Defend Against Athrax Threat Mar 16, 2008
A new study by an international team of researchers from Cardiff University and University of Maryland has revealed how the humble cup of tea could well be an antidote to Bacillus anthracis --more commonly know as anthrax ... Anthrax - a potentially fatal human disease - is caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis ... Professor Baillie continued: "I would suggest that in the event that we are faced with a potential bio-terror attack, individuals may want to forgo their dash of milk at least... (Science Daily)
Researchers find possible target to treat deadly bloodstream infections Feb 29, 2008
" The study appears in the February issue of the journal PLoS Pathogens. A graduate student in Mankin's laboratory, Shalaka Samant, infected human blood in a test tube with E. coli bacteria, a major cause of bloodstream infections in hospitalized patients. Using a novel technique developed in Mankin's laboratory, Samant discovered that 19 E. coli mutants out of more than 4,000 she tested could not grow in blood. The majority of the mutants carried a deletion of a gene involved in making... (EurekAlert!)
Anthrax enters West Bengal before bird flu exits Feb 5, 2008
Anthrax is an acute disease in humans and animals that is caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis and is highly lethal in some forms. Anthrax is one of only a few bacteria that can form long-lived spores. (Hindustan Times)
Anthrax Cellular Entry Point Uncovered Jan 28, 2008
Bacillus anthracis infection occurs in three forms: cutaneous (skin), inhalation and through swallowing spores. The skin infection is the most common type and can be treated with antibiotics if diagnosed rapidly. (Science Daily)
Finding link to anthrax, professor set NAU apart Dec 16, 2007
In early 2001, he had 25 researchers for his various projects and was among a handful of U.S. scientists who worked on Bacillus anthracis, the bacterium that lives in soil and causes anthrax disease ... Investigators speculated that whoever committed the attacks had access to Bacillus anthracis and an intimate knowledge of how the pathogen worked ... He and a colleague discovered a way to DNA fingerprint different strains of Bacillus anthracis, the pathogen that causes anthrax. (AZCentral -- News)
Anthrax scares Dec 13, 2007
Dec 10: The special squad of Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB) of New Zealand revealed that the substance found on the letter is mere fertiliser and not the Anthrax powder as per their primary investigation done in Auckland today. According to reports, two separate letters were found in two media organisations TVNZ and Greenstone Pictures within a span of 30 minutes. (Newstrack India)
Faster, More Sensitive Method For Detecting Anthrax Nov 8, 2007
8, 2007) Amid continuing concerns that anthrax might be used as a bioterrorism weapon, government researchers report development of a faster, more sensitive blood test for detecting the deadly toxins produced by the anthrax bacterium, Bacillus anthracis ... Standard identification of anthrax (Bacillus anthracis) infection relies on a combination of time-consuming steps, including cell culture and gene amplification, which can take several days to provide a diagnosis and have limitations for... (Science Daily)
Preparing 3-D Images Of World's Most Deadly Infectious Diseases Nov 2, 2007
1, 2007) A scientist slides on a pair of plastic 3-D glasses and an unearthly blue multi-armed creature -- an image right out of a sci-fi horror flick -- seems to leap out of the computer screen into the laboratory. But this is no movie director's fantasy. (Science Daily)
Six Escambia students heading to statewide Academic Challenge Oct 11, 2007
Escambia County area high school students compete Wednesday at the Hall Center for a spot on the county's All-Star Academic Tournament team. Tony Giberson/tgiberson@pnj. (Pensacola News Journal)
Anthrax claims eight cows in Montana’s Sheridan County Aug 31, 2007
Anthrax is a disease caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis, and the organism naturally occurs in the soil of many western states, including Montana. The organism forms spores which can survive in the soil for decades. (Great Falls Prairie Star, MT)
Inhaled anthrax vaccine promising in early studies Aug 28, 2007
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - An experimental anthrax vaccine that is administered intranasally, rather than by intramuscular injection, can protect against exposure to lethal amounts of Bacillus anthracis, the bacteria that causes anthrax, the results of an animal study show. The anthrax vaccine currently in use, which was developed over 30 years ago, requires multiple injections and is associated with various side effects. (Scientific American)
Easy-to-use Anthrax Vaccine Produces Immunity With Nanoparticles, Not Needles Aug 18, 2007
In the new study, the U-M team combined the nanoemulsion and a recombinant protein of Bacillus anthracis to make the vaccine, which they gave first to mice in either one or two applications ... After administering the vaccine, the researchers challenged the immune systems of immunized guinea pigs with injections of 1,000 times the lethal dose of Bacillus anthracis spores ... When the researchers delivered large doses of Bacillus anthracis spores directly into the animals' nasal tissue, they... (Science Daily)
Anthrax Bacterium's Deadly Secrets Probed Aug 10, 2007
This finding sheds light on why Bacillus anthracis does not grow in soil, even though in many ways it resembles a soil-growing bacterium ... Family members exhibit a variety of behaviours ranging from the friendly Bacillus subtilis, which lives in the soil, promotes plant growth and is used to produce industrial enzymes and vitamins, to the deadly Bacillus anthracis, which causes anthrax ... The predicted secreted proteins from Bacillus anthracis help to explain its inability to grow in soil. (Science Daily)
Taming the anthrax threat Aug 2, 2007
Shown here is an electron micrograph of a Bacillus anthracis spore, magnified 92,000 times ... Bacillus anthracis can quickly transform from a dormant spore (the white powder sent to U.S. lawmakers and others in the mail in 2001) into an active, quickly-multiplying organism once it gets inside the warm lungs of a host ... Bacillus anthracis can cause infection elsewhere in the body, but is most serious and potentially deadly when its spores are inhaled. (EurekAlert!)
Bioterrorism questions and answers May 19, 2007
A: Anthrax is a serious disease caused by Bacillus anthracis, a bacterium that forms spores. In some forms, it can be highly lethal. (AZCentral -- News)
Anthrax Paralyzes Immune Cells With Lethal Toxin, Study Shows May 9, 2007
A photomicrograph of Bacillus anthracis bacteria using Gram-stain technique. (Credit: CDC). (Science Daily)
AVI BioPharma Inc. May 9, 2007
78 million to develop countermeasures for exposure to Bacillus anthracis (anthrax) and ricin toxin. The contracts are for work that AVI will undertake on three of the four programs included in a budget allocation as part of the 2006 Defense Appropriations Act. (The Business Journal of Portland, OR)
Oral Vaccine Containing Salmonella May Protect Against Aerosolized Anthrax Apr 29, 2007
Oral administration of a Salmonella enterica-based vaccine expressing Bacillus anthracis protective antigen confers protection against aerosolized B. anthracis. Infection and Immunity, 75. (Science Daily)
New Chemical Effective Against Anthrax Apr 24, 2007
Article: "Identification of an in Vivo Inhibitor of Bacillus anthracis Spore Germination" by Monique Akoachere, Raynal C. Squires, Adel M. Nour, Ludmyl Angelov, Jurgen Brojatsch, and Ernesto Abel-Santos. Note: This story has been adapted from a news release issued by American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. (Science Daily)
Cystic Fibrosis Treatment: New Study On Lung-infecting Bacterial Enzyme Suggests New Approach Apr 20, 2007
The researchers found that direct exposure of the CFTR-containing oocytes to SMase of Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus anthracis bacteria shuts off the electrical current passing through not only the normal, but also the CF-causing mutant CFTR.. The next step for the research team is to develop specific inhibitors against the bacterial SMase and test the idea in an animal model. (Science Daily)
Aggie physicists unite with Ivy League to develop anthrax detection method Apr 13, 2007
But the Texas Aceton group has developed new techniques for minimizing the background "noise" from extraneous molecules and maximizing the coherent molecular oscillations crucial to detecting endospores of Bacillus anthracis (anthrax). They have accomplished this by using a succession of femtosecond pulses (one femtosecond is one billionth of one millionth of a second) so that the first two laser pulses in the CARS process prepare a coherent molecular vibration, then time-delaying the third... (EurekAlert!)
Antimicrobial activity and brine shrimp toxicity of extracts of Terminalia brownii roots and stem Mar 30, 2007
Extracts of the stem bark, wood and whole roots of T.brownii exhibited antibacterial activity against standard strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella typhi, and Bacillus anthracis and the fungi, Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans. Aqueous extracts exhibited the strongest activity against both bacteria and fungi. (BioMed Central)
Producers urged to vaccinate for anthrax Mar 17, 2007
Anthrax is a naturally occurring disease caused by the bacteria Bacillus anthracis. All warm-blooded animals are susceptible to the disease, but cattle, horses, sheep, and goats are most commonly affected. (Minnesota Farm Guide, MN)
Anthrax decontamination under way Mar 7, 2007
----------------- ----------------- RELATED BBC SITES. Last Updated: Tuesday, 6 March 2007, 18:55 GMT. (BBC News)
Homeland Security Presidential Directive/HSPD-18 Feb 8, 2007
Examples of traditional agents include Bacillus anthracis (anthrax) and Yersinia pestis (plague). (b) Enhanced Agents: Enhanced agents are traditional agents that have been modified or selected to enhance their ability to harm human populations or circumvent current countermeasures, such as a bacterium that has been modified to resist antibiotic treatment. (White House News Releases)
Zimbabwe: UN Donates Millions to Fight Foot-And-Mouth Jan 19, 2007
Small-scale farmers have seen their livestock decimated by outbreaks of highly contagious FMD, a viral disease carried by wild buffalo, which does not affect humans but has devastating effects on animals with cloven hooves, such as cattle, pigs, sheep, goats and deer, as well as anthrax, a disease caused by the bacillus anthracis, which can also infect humans. The government's failure to address bovine diseases has reduced Zimbabwe's national herd from 1. (allAfrica.com)
Anthrax attack posed greater potential threat than thought Jan 5, 2007
In October of 2001, a letter containing spores of Bacillus anthracis, the bacterium that causes the deadly disease anthrax, was opened in Daschle's office at the Hart Senate Office Building in Washington, DC. Those in or near Daschle's office, judged likely to have been exposed to the spores, received antibiotics or a vaccine, as did others within or outside the building, and no deaths resulted from this act of bioterrorism. According to the new study of the event, however, people in areas... (EurekAlert!)
