Anthrax vaccines

About: Anthrax vaccines is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 685 publications have been published within this topic receiving 21495 citations.

Vaccination against anthrax

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for immunizing a mammal against B. anthracis using a composition of pure recombinant Protective Antigen (rPA), optionally in combination with truncated Lethal Factor polypeptide (LFn). Formulations of the pure rPA immunogen have little or no reactogenicity and therefore may be administered to a mammalian subject in very high doses of 50 μg to 1000 μg or more rPA, which is at least four times the amount of PA included per dose in conventional anthrax vaccines. Preferred immunogenic compositions are free of adjuvant and other undesired components, further enhancing the effectiveness and safety of the compositions. Methods for preparing the immunogenic compositions and for purifying rPA and LFn polypeptides also are disclosed.

A study of the physiology of Bacillus anthracis Sterne during manufacture of the UK acellular anthrax vaccine

Abstract: Aim: To analyse the growth of Bacillus anthracis during simulations of the UK anthrax vaccine manufacturing process Methods and Results: Simulated vaccine production runs were performed using the toxigenic, acapsulate Sterne 34F2 strain of B anthracis in semi-defined medium After rising during the logarithmic growth phase, the pH of the culture starts to fall at about 18 h from pH 8·7 to reach <7·6 at 26 h, coincident with consumption of glucose and optimal production of protective antigen (PA; 7·89 g ml−1, SD 1·0) and lethal factor (LF; 1·85 g ml−1, SD 0·29) No increased breakdown of toxin antigens was seen over the 26–32 h period When glucose was exhausted, amino acids (principally serine) were utilized as an alternative carbon source Sporulation was not observed during the 32 h Conclusions: PA and LF, the principal constituents in the UK anthrax vaccine, undergo little degradation during vaccine fermentation The vaccine manufacturing process is robust and reproducible Significance and Impact of the Study: This is the first detailed analysis of the manufacturing process used for the UK acellular anthrax vaccine; insight gained into the process will support continued and safe vaccine manufacture

An outbreak of anthrax meningoencephalitis

Abstract: We report a common-source outbreak of anthrax meningoencephalitis in Chittoor district in Andhra Pradesh, southern India, in October 1990. The source of infection was the carcass of a sheep. Of 5 persons who skinned and cut up its meat for human consumption, 4 developed anthrax meningoencephalitis and one a malignant pustule. Another person who wrapped the meat in a cloth and carried it home on his head developed a malignant pustule on his forehead and also meningoencephalitis. All subjects with anthrax meningoencephalitis died, but the one with only a malignant pustule recovered. A large number of people who cooked or ate the cooked meat of the dead sheep remained well. The medical, public health and veterinary authorities were alerted and sheep, goats and cattle in the locality were immunized with anthrax vaccine. Although rules against consumption of meat of dead animals exist, their violation shows a lack of public awareness. Health education should be undertaken to correct this situation.