ANTHRAX LETHAL FACTOR: CRITICAL VIRULENCE FACTOR OF PATHOGENESIS OF ANTHRAX TOXINS

Abstract

Anthrax is an infectious disease caused by toxigenic strains of gram-positive bacterium, Bacillus anthracis. Lethal factor (LF), a critical virulence factor of pathogensis of anthrax toxin, is a Zn²⁺-dependent metalloprotease, which specifically cleaves mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase family, leading to macrophage lysis of toxin-challenged cells. The enzyme properties, substrate specificity, and three-dimensional structure of LF have been reported. Recently, several kinds of assay methods for LF activity have been devised, and chemical library screening has led to the discovery of potent inhibitors. Advances in molecular details of LF enable the design and development of the rational therapeutic approach.

Keywords: :

• Anthrax toxin
• Lethal factor
• Inhibitor screening.