Anthrax Toxin: History and Recent Advances and Perspectives

Abstract

Since 1980, following the Sverdlovsk incident, there has been an enormous resurgence in research activity on both the nature of Bacillus anthracis and the tripartite toxin it elaborates. A plasmid, pXO1, has been shown to control the production of the toxin components; protective antigen, edema factor and lethal factor. Another plasmid, pXO2, encodes for the protective capsule that inhibits phagocytosis. The mechanism of action of edema factor has been identified as that of an adenylate cyclase. Along with major advances in molecular biology a number of very promising recombinant constructs have been made that shed new light of the role of individual components. The new attenuated recombinants, engineered so that they can not revert to a fully virulent form, may serve as new live vaccine candidates.