Julie A. Lovchik

TL;DR: The characteristics of host and Bacillus anthracis interactions in a murine pulmonary-infection model are described to investigate the importance of specific bacterial genes in virulence, to identify components of the host immune system that are important in providing innate and acquired protection, and for testing diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

TL;DR: CD40 stimulation is identified as a means for production of Ab and generation of mAbs against a weakly immunogenic antigen and the capsule is an effective target for immunoprotection and for antigen detection in the diagnosis of anthrax.

TL;DR: It is demonstrated that, although recruitment of effector cells was required, it was not sufficient to initiate clearance of Cne from the lung, and an IFN gamma-induced effector mechanism, i.e., NO production, was also required.

TL;DR: In this paper, it was shown that when spores of specific toxin-null mutants are introduced into the lung, dissemination and lethality are comparable to those of the parent strain in a murine model of inhalation anthrax.

TL;DR: In vivo experiments revealed an approximately twofold decrease in the 50% lethal dose of B. anthracis spores administered in the presence of d-alanine, indicating that rates of germination may be directly influenced by the levels of this amino acid during early stages of disease.