Aileen Anthrax

Question 1

What type of zoonoses is Anthrax?

Answer 1

Bioterrorism

Question 2

What is the name/species of anthrax?

Answer 2

Bacillus anthraxis

Question 3

What is the taxonomy of anthrax?

Answer 3

Family: Bacillaceae
Genus: Bacillus
Species: Bacillus Anthracias

Question 4

What serovars or clades does anthrax have?

Answer 4

Serovars: 1,200

Question 5

What is the morphology of anthrax?

Answer 5

Morphology: Baccilus rod Capsule: is a poly-D-glutamic acid capsule made of peptides instead of polysachharides like in other bacteria. Allows ristance to phagosytosis

Question 6

What gram satin is anthrax?

Answer 6

Poisitive

Question 7

What are the O2 requirments for anthax?

Answer 7

Aerobic

Question 8

Is anthrax mobile? q

Answer 8

No

Question 9

Can Anthrax form spores?

Answer 9

Endospore Forming: Requires O2 and lack of nutrients. Cortex, Coat (60 coat proteins), and exosporium (ballon like structure encases the entire spore)

Question 10

How long can anthrax survive?

Answer 10

Vegitative: very weak dies very easily Spore: very risistant can live for long periods of time 75 years on silk thread, and decades in the soil

Question 11

What is the lethal dose of anthrax?

Answer 11

2,500 -55,000 spores

Question 12

What is the life cycle of anthrax?

Answer 12

spore –> ingestion/inhalation –> germentation/vegitative –> death –> spore release

Question 13

What is the infection route of anthrax?

Answer 13

1. Inhalation/ingestion/cutaneous 2. Bcla of the endospore binds to the CD14 of the macrophage and is endocytosed 3. carried in macrophage to the lymph nodes 4. vegitative form taken 5. gerH locus of host macrophage release germination factors: germinate sensor proteins which binf to the purine and histidine of the anthrax resulting in germination. 6. Vegitative form released into the lymph tissue and spill over into the blood 7. 10⁸ 8. Toxin release: septicemia. Toxins: Edema toxin: Edema factor + protective antigen: calmodulin dependant adenylcyclase which interferes with cell signaling. The ATP is conveted into cAMP interfering with water homeostasis and results in edema and impaired immune systme Lethal toxin: lethal factor +protective antigen, zinc metalleo proteases inactive protein kinases, which stimulates the production of macrophages TNF alpha and IL-1beta leading to shock and death. Tripartite: edema + lethal + protective antigen Protective antigen: delivers the LF and EF into the host cyctosol LF cleaves the Mitogen activated kinases and Nlrpl a component of the inflammsome altering transduction. Allowing EF to do its thing. 9. Death and Spore release

Question 14

What is the history of Anthrax?

Answer 14

Found in the fertile cresent over 7,000 years ago

1769: Fiernier: first documented in the literature
1942: Anthrax island testing for anthrax as a biological weapon. Vollum 14578: a highly virulent strain was used. 80 sheep bombs filled with anthrax. Contamination: deemed it would result in extreme contamination of german cities for decades. All attempts to rid the island of the anthrax have failed. 1945: The family who owned the island were told they could not have it back until it was safe and that they would have to pay 500£ for it. 1981: Operation Dark HArvest: Microbiologist collected loads of dirt for analysis 1986: formaldyhyde sprayed all over the island, sheep were placed on the island and remain healthy 1990: the island was considered uncontminated March 2022: there was a wild fire that consumed the entire island.

1979: Russia: outbreak in lab from trying to make a bioweapon 94 sick and 64 died
1978-1980: S Africa: Anthrax chemical warfare on the black tribes lands: during apartied: killed 182 known people, 1000s of cattle, and over 10,0000 people infected.
1993: Tokyo: Aum Shinrikyo, release non-lethal cow vaccine anthrax into the air in toko
2001: D.C: contaminated letters to officails. Postal workers heavily affected. 1 cutaneous including a 7 month old boy. And 11 inhilation: 5 detahs