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Nature Medicine 9, 996 - 997 (2003)
doi:10.1038/nm0803-996
Anthrax delivers a lethal blow to host immunity
Michael N Starnbach1 & R John Collier1
- Michael N. Starnbach and R. John Collier are in the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Harvard Medical School, 200 Longwood Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. e-mail: starnbach@hms.harvard.edu or e-mail: jcollier@hms.harvard.edu
Abstract
Anthrax toxin is known to impair key signaling pathways, but exactly how does this damage the body or benefit the bacterium? Impairment of host immunity is now linked to an enzymatic activity of the toxin.
Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax, produces a tripartite toxin that can kill experimental animals and cause shock-like symptoms resembling those seen in the disease. Immunization against the toxin protects against infection, and strains of the bacillus that do not produce the toxin are attenuated; hence the toxin is an important virulence factor.
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