New insight into the spread of Anthrax infection

A new hypothesis concerning a crucial step in the anthrax infection process has been advanced by scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) at Fort Detrick, Md.

The research teams have explored the behaviour of the toxins that rapidly overwhelm the body as the often-fatal disease progresses. Their findings suggest a new possible mechanism by which anthrax bacteria deliver the protein molecules that poison victims.

To read about this further, see the following paper:

Brian J. Nablo, Rekha G. Panchal, Sina Bavari, Tam L. Nguyen, Rick Gussio, Wil Ribot, Art Friedlander, Donald Chabot, Joseph E. Reiner, Joseph W. F. Robertson, Arvind Balijepalli, Kelly M. Halverson, John J. Kasianowicz. Anthrax toxin-induced rupture of artificial lipid bilayer membranes. The Journal of Chemical Physics, 2013; 139 (6): 065101 DOI: 10.1063/1.4816467

Posted by Tim Sandle