[Molecular mechanisms underlying bacillus anthracis infection at early stages and search for novel vaccines]

The developmental mechanisms of anthrax immunity were studied. Immunization was found to generally generate specific antibodies and lysozyme. Collectively, all the factors are responsible for suppressing the development of spores in the body. This proves the fact that the immunity is directed not only towards the exotoxin of B. anthracis, but it affects mainly the formation of vegetative cells. On entering the immuned body, vegetative cells may cause B. anthracis infection because antitoxic antibodies have no effect on encapsulated cells. The findings indicate that any anti-anthrax vaccine strain must show a complete immunological response in the body, as well as constitute immunity to all pathogenetic factors of B anthracis.