Anthrax prevention through vaccine and post-exposure therapy

Area of Science:

• Medical Microbiology
• Immunology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Anthrax prophylaxis and treatment rely heavily on vaccines and therapeutic antibodies.
• Improvements in vaccine and antibody availability and safety have significantly reduced the global anthrax burden.

Observation:

• Recent efforts, especially post-2010, focus on enhancing the safety and efficacy of anthrax vaccines and therapeutic antibodies.
• Literature searches of PubMed and Europe PMC were conducted to identify these recent developments.

Findings:

• Existing knowledge gaps in the mechanisms of biological anthrax control measures need to be addressed.
• Enhancing the stability, safety, and efficacy of current vaccines and antibodies is crucial.

Implications:

• Identifying novel inhibitors targeting key anthrax pathophysiology molecules and steps can significantly improve control.
• Future research should focus on addressing current lacunae to develop more effective anthrax countermeasures.