Alterations in the host transcriptome in vitro following Rift Valley fever virus infection.

Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) causes major outbreaks among livestock, characterized by "abortion storms" in which spontaneous abortion occurs in almost 100% of pregnant ruminants. Humans can also become infected with mild symptoms that can progress to more severe symptoms, such as hepatitis, encephalitis, and hemorrhagic fever. The goal of this study was to use RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) to analyze the host transcriptome in response to RVFV infection.

Comparison of sampling methods to recover germinated Bacillus anthracis and Bacillus thuringiensis endospores from surface coupons.

Aims: In an attempt to devise decontamination methods that are both effective and minimally detrimental to the environment, we evaluated germination induction as an enhancement to strategies for Bacillus anthracis spore decontamination. To determine an optimal method for the recovery of germinating spores from different matrices, it was critical to ensure that the sampling procedures did not negatively impact the viability of the germinating spores possibly confounding the results and downstream analyses of field trial data.

Methods And Results: Therefore, the two main objectives of this study were the following: (i) development of an effective processing protocol capable of recovering the maximum number of viable germinating or germinated spores from different surface materials; and (ii) using a model system of spore contamination, employ this protocol to evaluate the potential applicability of germination induction to wide-area decontamination of B.

Quantitative anti-F1 and anti-V IgG ELISAs as serological correlates of protection against plague in female Swiss Webster mice.

A recombinant fusion protein composed of Yersinia pestis fraction 1 capsule (F1) and virulence-associated V antigen (V) (F1-V) has been developed as the next-generation vaccine against plague. In this study, female Swiss Webster mice received a single intramuscular vaccination with one of eight doses of the F1-V vaccine and exposed 4 weeks later to either Y. pestis CO92 or C12 organisms by the subcutaneous or aerosol routes of infection.

Patterns of antibody response in humans to the anthrax vaccine adsorbed (AVA) primary (six-dose) series.

The antibody profile during and after the six-dose primary vaccination series with anthrax vaccine adsorbed (AVA, Biothrax) was characterized in 86 human volunteers. Ninety-three percent of recipients developed IgG antibodies to Bacillus anthracis protective antigen (PA) after two doses, and 100% were seropositive after dose #3. Geometric mean concentrations (GMC) of IgG to PA measured before and after each dose were significantly lower after injection #3 (peak GMC=146.

The detection of protective antigen (PA) associated with spores of Bacillus anthracis and the effects of anti-PA antibodies on spore germination and macrophage interactions.

The protective antigen (PA) component of the anthrax toxins is an essential virulence factor of Bacillus anthracis and is the major protective immunogen. The kinetics of PA production during growth of B. anthracis, and the roles of anti-PA antibody in host immunity are not clearly defined.