1887

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Volume 72, Issue 8

JMM Profile: Open Access

This article is part of the JMM Profiles collection.

Graphical Abstract

 Graphical abstract 

Principal routes of infection and stages of anthrax pathogenesis, consistent with current understandings. Depending on the route of infection, germination of spores may happen in extracellular tissue fluid, or following phagocytosis (a). Successful infection of host cells leads to toxin-associated cell death and release of vegetative cells and toxin (b). Toxin binds and enters other host cells (c), including those of the immune system, disrupting function. In some cases this leads to systemic disease, which typically is fatal.

 

Abstract

has a wide host range among warm-blooded animals and causes the disease anthrax. This manifests in localized forms (skin, alimentary) and as septicaemia, the latter typically being fatal. forms robust and long-lived endospores, which constitute the environmental phase of its lifecycle and are the key infective agents. Elaboration of plasmid-encoded binary toxin complex and a capsule are fundamental to pathogenicity. Epidemiology in animals is typified by prolonged environmental quiescence and acute systemic disease. Human disease is non-contagious and derives usually from contact with livestock or animal products, although military or terrorist dispersal of spores remains a threat.

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  • Published Online:
Keyword(s): capsule , pXO1 , pXO2 and spore
Funding
This study was supported by the:
  • Scottish Government (Award Contract B)
    • Principle Award Recipient: NotApplicable
  • Llywodraeth Cymru (Award Contract B)
    • Principle Award Recipient: NotApplicable
  • Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, UK Government (Award Contract B)
    • Principle Award Recipient: NotApplicable
© 2023 Crown Copyright
  • This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. This article was made open access via a Publish and Read agreement between the Microbiology Society and the corresponding author’s institution.
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2023-08-21
2024-05-02
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