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1: Vaccine. 2004 Nov 15;23(1):43-7.Click here to read Links

Anthrax capsule vaccine protects against experimental infection.

Chabot DJ, Scorpio A, Tobery SA, Little SF, Norris SL, Friedlander AM.

US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1425 Porter Street, Frederick, MD 21701, USA. donald.chabot@amedd.army.mil

Efficacy of a poly-gamma-D-glutamic acid anthrax capsule vaccine was assessed in a mouse model of infection. Capsule by itself was protective against lethal challenge with a toxin(-), capsule(+) Bacillus anthracis strain. Conjugation of capsule to bovine serum albumin resulted in enhanced IgG anti-capsule antibodies measured by ELISA, but completely abrogated the protection. The protective unconjugated capsule vaccine elicited significantly higher IgM titers and opsonic activity than did the non-protective capsule conjugate. When tested against a fully virulent toxin(+), capsule(+) B. anthracis strain, neither capsule nor protective antigen alone was protective. However, the combination of the two protected against a lethal challenge. These results suggest that capsule may enhance the protection afforded by protective antigen vaccines against anthrax if opsonizing antibodies are produced. Surprisingly, some protection was also observed when protective antigen was conjugated to itself.

PMID: 15519706 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Patient Drug Information

  • Anthrax Vaccine (Biothrax® )

    Anthrax is a serious disease that can affect both animals and humans. It is caused by bacteria calledBacillus anthracis. People can get anthrax from contact with infected animals, wool, meat, or hides. In its most common...

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