Evaluation of liposomal ciprofloxacin formulations in a murine model of anthrax.

The in vivo efficacy of liposomal encapsulated ciprofloxacin in two formulations, lipoquin and apulmiq, were evaluated against the causative agent of anthrax, Bacillus anthracis. Liposomal encapsulated ciprofloxacin is attractive as a therapy since it allows for once daily dosing and achieves higher concentrations of the antibiotic at the site of initial mucosal entry but lower systemic drug concentrations. The in vivo efficacy of lipoquin and apulmiq delivered by intranasal instillation was studied at different doses and schedules in both a post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) therapy model and in a delayed treatment model of murine inhalational anthrax.

Decontamination Efficacy and Skin Toxicity of Two Decontaminants against Bacillus anthracis.

Decontamination of bacterial endospores such as Bacillus anthracis has traditionally required the use of harsh or caustic chemicals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a chlorine dioxide decontaminant in killing Bacillus anthracis spores in solution and on a human skin simulant (porcine cadaver skin), compared to that of commonly used sodium hypochlorite or soapy water decontamination procedures. In addition, the relative toxicities of these decontaminants were compared in human skin keratinocyte primary cultures.

Genetic diversity among Bacillus anthracis soil isolates at fine geographic scales.

Environmental samples were collected from carcass sites during and after anthrax outbreaks in 2000 and 2001 in the bison (Bison bison) population within Wood Buffalo National Park and the Hook Lake Region north of Wood Buffalo National Park. Bacillus anthracis spores were isolated from these samples and confirmed using phenotypic characterization and real-time PCR. Confirmed B.

Evaluating Burkholderia pseudomallei Bip proteins as vaccines and Bip antibodies as detection agents.

Burkholderia pseudomallei is a biothreat agent and an important natural pathogen, causing melioidosis in humans and animals. A type III secretion system (TTSS-3) has been shown to be critical for virulence. Because TTSS components from other pathogens have been used successfully as diagnostic agents and as experimental vaccines, it was investigated whether this was the case for BipB, BipC and BipD, components of B.

Single-nucleotide repeat analysis for subtyping Bacillus anthracis isolates.

Single-nucleotide repeats (SNRs) are variable-number tandem repeats that display very high mutation rates. In an outbreak situation, the use of a marker system that exploits regions with very high mutation rates, such as SNRs, allows the differentiation of isolates with extremely low levels of genetic diversity. This report describes the identification and analysis of SNR loci of Bacillus anthracis.

Expression of the ExeAB complex of Aeromonas hydrophila is required for the localization and assembly of the ExeD secretion port multimer.

Aeromonas hydrophila secretes protein toxins via the type II pathway, involving the products of at least two operons, exeAB (gspAB) and exeC-N (gspC-N). In the studies reported here, aerolysin secretion was restored to C5.84, an exeA::Tn5-751 mutant, by overexpression of exeD alone in trans.