Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Anthrax X-rayed: new opportunities for biodefence.

Milton T Stubbs1

  • 1Institut für Biotechnologie, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Strasse 3, D-06120 Halle an der Saale, Germany. stubbs@biochemtech.uni-halle.de

Trends in Pharmacological Sciences
|November 30, 2002
PubMed
Summary

Bacillus anthracis causes deadly inhalation anthrax through anthrax toxin. Structural studies of the toxin

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Total Synthesis and Structural Revision of Keenamide A.

Journal of natural products·2026
Same author

Mechanism of SHP2 activation by bis-Tyr-phosphorylated Gab1.

Structure (London, England : 1993)·2025
Same author

Strategies for mitigating radiation damage and improving data completeness in 3D electron diffraction of protein crystals.

Acta crystallographica. Section D, Structural biology·2025
Same author

Preparing submicrometer crystals for electron diffraction.

Nature protocols·2024
Same author

Delineating organizational principles of the endogenous L-A virus by cryo-EM and computational analysis of native cell extracts.

Communications biology·2024
Same author

Coupling proteins, with deadly consequences.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2023

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Toxicology
  • Drug Discovery

Background:

  • Bacillus anthracis is the causative agent of inhalation anthrax.
  • Anthrax toxin, comprising protective antigen, lethal factor, and oedema factor, is responsible for the lethality of the disease.
  • The host's innate immune system is often insufficient to overcome the rapid toxin-induced damage.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the structural basis of anthrax toxin components.
  • To identify potential targets for novel therapeutic interventions.
  • To explore strategies for neutralizing anthrax toxin activity.

Main Methods:

  • Structural biology techniques (e.g., X-ray crystallography, cryo-EM) were employed.
  • Biochemical assays were used to characterize toxin component interactions.
  • Computational modeling may have been utilized to analyze structural data.

Main Results:

  • Detailed structural information was obtained for key anthrax toxin components.
  • Understanding the molecular architecture provides insights into toxin function.
  • Structural data highlights potential sites for drug development.

Conclusions:

  • Structural studies of anthrax toxin are crucial for understanding its mechanism of action.
  • This research provides a foundation for designing novel drugs to neutralize anthrax toxin.
  • Targeting the toxin offers a promising adjunct to traditional antibiotic therapies for anthrax.

Related Experiment Videos