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 Concept Videos

Inhalation Anthrax01:25

Inhalation Anthrax

Anthrax is a zoonotic disease caused by Bacillus anthracis, a Gram-positive, spore-forming bacterium. It primarily affects herbivorous animals but can be transmitted to humans through skin contact, ingestion, or inhalation of spores.Cutaneous anthrax, the most common form, typically results from direct contact with bacterial spores through skin abrasions and is generally less severe. Gastrointestinal anthrax results from eating undercooked or contaminated meat. It affects the mouth, throat, or...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

An electron microscopy study of Bacillus anthracis capsule reveals early expression and novel strand-like structures.

Research in microbiology·2025
Same author

In Vivo Comparison of Branched vs Linear Pegylation of a Capsule-Degrading Enzyme for Treatment of Anthrax.

ACS omega·2025
Same author

Early short-course treatment fails to prevent disease or relapse upon discontinuance of treatment in infections in addition to COVID-19.

Journal of virology·2025
Same author

Bacillus cereus biovar anthracis causes inhalational anthrax-like disease in rabbits that is treatable with medical countermeasures.

PLoS neglected tropical diseases·2025
Same author

Clinical Features of Patients Hospitalized for All Routes of Anthrax, 1880-2018: A Systematic Review.

Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America·2022
Same author

The capsule of Bacillus anthracis protects it from the bactericidal activity of human defensins and other cationic antimicrobial peptides.

PLoS pathogens·2022

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 8, 2026

Opsono-Adherence Assay to Evaluate Functional Antibodies in Vaccine Development Against Bacillus anthracis and Other Encapsulated Pathogens
13:47

Opsono-Adherence Assay to Evaluate Functional Antibodies in Vaccine Development Against Bacillus anthracis and Other Encapsulated Pathogens

Published on: May 19, 2020

Treatment of experimental anthrax with recombinant capsule depolymerase.

Angelo Scorpio1, Steven A Tobery, Wilson J Ribot

  • 1United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1425 Porter Street, Frederick, MD 21702, USA. angelo.scorpio@amedd.army.mil

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy
|December 28, 2007
PubMed
Summary

Capsule depolymerase (CapD) from Bacillus anthracis enhances phagocytic killing of anthrax bacilli in vivo. Parenteral administration of CapD protected mice against anthrax infection, suggesting potential as a novel postexposure therapy.

More Related Videos

Recombinant Protein Expression, Crystallization, and Biophysical Studies of a Bacillus-conserved Nucleotide Pyrophosphorylase, BcMazG
12:23

Recombinant Protein Expression, Crystallization, and Biophysical Studies of a Bacillus-conserved Nucleotide Pyrophosphorylase, BcMazG

Published on: May 16, 2017

Expression of Exogenous Antigens in the Mycobacterium bovis BCG Vaccine via Non-genetic Surface Decoration with the Avidin-biotin System
10:11

Expression of Exogenous Antigens in the Mycobacterium bovis BCG Vaccine via Non-genetic Surface Decoration with the Avidin-biotin System

Published on: January 31, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 8, 2026

Opsono-Adherence Assay to Evaluate Functional Antibodies in Vaccine Development Against Bacillus anthracis and Other Encapsulated Pathogens
13:47

Opsono-Adherence Assay to Evaluate Functional Antibodies in Vaccine Development Against Bacillus anthracis and Other Encapsulated Pathogens

Published on: May 19, 2020

Recombinant Protein Expression, Crystallization, and Biophysical Studies of a Bacillus-conserved Nucleotide Pyrophosphorylase, BcMazG
12:23

Recombinant Protein Expression, Crystallization, and Biophysical Studies of a Bacillus-conserved Nucleotide Pyrophosphorylase, BcMazG

Published on: May 16, 2017

Expression of Exogenous Antigens in the Mycobacterium bovis BCG Vaccine via Non-genetic Surface Decoration with the Avidin-biotin System
10:11

Expression of Exogenous Antigens in the Mycobacterium bovis BCG Vaccine via Non-genetic Surface Decoration with the Avidin-biotin System

Published on: January 31, 2018

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Immunology
  • Pathogen Virulence Factors

Background:

  • Bacillus anthracis possesses a poly-D-glutamic acid capsule crucial for virulence.
  • Capsule depolymerase (CapD) is implicated in capsule anchoring and degradation, influencing bacterial survival.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the in vivo efficacy of CapD in promoting phagocytic killing of B. anthracis.
  • To assess the protective potential of CapD administration in murine models of anthrax infection.

Main Methods:

  • Treatment of B. anthracis with CapD to assess capsule removal and phagocytic susceptibility in vitro.
  • Parenteral administration of CapD in mice infected with encapsulated B. anthracis strains and spores.
  • Evaluation of survival rates and protection against anthrax challenge.

Main Results:

  • CapD treatment promoted in vivo phagocytic killing of B. anthracis by neutrophils.
  • Parenteral CapD administration conferred significant protection in two anthrax infection models.
  • Protection varied depending on the timing of CapD administration and the form of B. anthracis (bacilli vs. spores).

Conclusions:

  • The study supports the role of the B. anthracis capsule in virulence.
  • CapD demonstrates potential as a therapeutic agent to enhance host immune response against anthrax.
  • Targeting the anthrax capsule with CapD may offer novel postexposure treatment strategies.