Scientists in anthrax breakthrough

Scientists in the US may have discovered an important new way to save anthrax patients by blocking the toxin produced by the infection. The research findings could help prevent deaths in those with advanced anthrax. Teams at the University of Wisconsin Medical School's McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research and Harvard Medical School have identified how the anthrax toxin gets into and kills cells. They have also developed a way to prevent the toxin from entering healthy cells, and report their findings on November 8th in the journal, Nature.

Anthrax is caused by a bacterium but the bug itself does not cause death. As it grows and divides the bacterium releases a powerful toxin that destroys cells and ultimately causes death.

While antibiotics can keep the infection at bay if taken early enough, the patient still often succumbs to the toxin. There have been three confirmed anthrax deaths in the US since the bacterium was first identified after it was sent to a Florida-based media organisation.

The findings offer an important new way to help prevent anthrax deaths by targeting the toxin directly. The researchers located the cell surface receptor site for the toxin, the entry point used by the toxin to kill off the cell. They genetically engineered a portion of this "anthrax toxin receptor" and used this dummy receptor to mop up anthrax toxin. This prevented the toxin from attaching to healthy cells.

The finding could provide a vital new way to help those with advanced anthrax infection. The research team is now attempting to make enough of the toxin blocking receptor to test it in animal models.