Research OverviewPathogenesis of Anthrax Anthrax----a potentially fatal human disease----is caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis. A very serious and rapidly progressing form of the disease occurs when bacterial spores are inhaled, and then begin to grow in lung tissue. This makes anthrax a potent threat when it is used as a biological warfare agent. Understanding its biology and pathogenesis----the detailed process by which the bacterium causes disease is critical to neutralizing this global threat. Immunity, Vaccines and Therapeutic Antibodies Human immunity is one critical way to fight the dangers of anthrax exposure. This includes attempts to develop increasingly safe and effective vaccines. Another approach, known as passive immunity, is based on the use of antibodies that can neutralize the bacteria or the toxins that result from infections.
| Research DescriptionResearch Specialties: vaccine development, ecological microbiology The focus of my research over the last 13 years has been to understand the biology of Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax. My research efforts can be broadly divided into the following areas: Evolution/Ecology: The working hypothesis is that the organism evolved from a common B. cereus ancestor through the acquisition of two virulence plasmids which transformed the bacterium from a ubiquitous environmental organism to an obligate pathogen unable to replicate outside of an infected host. In collaboration with colleagues at Universities of Oxford and Herriot Watts in the UK we have employed Multi-Locus Sequence Typing (MLST) to characterize the genetic interrelatedness of the members of the B. cereus group (paper in press J. Bact). Interestingly B. anthracis represents a distinct, closely defined group with geographically distinct isolates showing little if any intergroup diversity suggesting perhaps that the organism has lost the ability to replicate outside of a susceptible host. In addition to MLST screening we have also investigated the role of B. anthracis specific bacteriophages as a vehicles for gene transfer. Analysis of the recently completed B. anthracis genome sequence (Read et al., 2003) revealed the presence of a prophages integrated into the chromosome. Subsequent screening of over 200 geographically distinct isolates of B. anthracis... Complete Information... |
Representative PublicationsBaillie, Les (2001) The development of new vaccines against Bacillus anthracis. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 91; 609-613. Thwaite,J.E., Baillie, L.W.J., Carter,N.M., Stephenson,K., Rees,M., Harwood,C.R. and Emmerson (2002) Optimization of the cell wall microenvironment allows increased production of recombinant Bacillus anthracis Protective Antigen (rPA) from Bacillus anthracis. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 68; 227-234. Fick-Smith, H., I et al., (2002) Mucosal or Parental Adminsitration of Microsphere Associated Bacillus anthracis Protective Antigen Protects against Anthrax infection in mice. Infection and Immunity 70(4): 2022-8.
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