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Who is Bacillus?. Gram + spore former Good things about Bacillus?. Bacillus anthracis. Name derived from coal Non-motile, aerobic, 1-8 um long, look like jointed bamboo rod Spores readily germinate ar 37C Colonies are diagnostic– curled hair colony Need rich environment to germinate
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Who is Bacillus? • Gram + spore former • Good things about Bacillus?
Bacillus anthracis • Name derived from coal • Non-motile, aerobic, 1-8 um long, look like jointed bamboo rod • Spores readily germinate ar 37C • Colonies are diagnostic– curled hair colony • Need rich environment to germinate • Full virulence required 3 toxin components • Vegetative cell poor survival outside host, spores survive decades • Spores natural in soil--
The toxin • Protective antigen () • Lethan factor () • Edema factor ()
The disease • Inhalation • Cutaneous • Gastero • No reported cases in US since 1978
Inhalation anthrax • Spores deposited in the alveolar spaces • Macrophage ingest spores • Once germination occurs disease follows rapidly. But germination can occur up to 60 days later… • Toxins ause hemorrhage, edema, necrosis • Antibiotics no longer help once toxins reach critical concentration • 2 stages to illness: nonspecific, and then too late…
Diagnosis and vaccination • No early system diagnosis • Vaccine last about 100 days • antibiotics
How serious is the threat? • 50kg released over a pop of 5 million- 100-250 thousand would die without treatment • 130 000-3 million deaths if aerosolized release of 100kg over DC= lethality equal or exceeding H2 atomic bomb • If 20mill spores/m2, soldier excercising for 3h 1000-15 000 spores inhaled; LD 50 is 2500-55000 spores • Cost 26 billion/100 000 treated • Genomics and biotech-- good and bad
Other threats • Smallpox • Plaque • Others?