New Anthrax Cure Could End Resistant Biowar Threat

Complexity Digest 2002.35 - 19.03

02-Sep-2002

New Anthrax Cure Could End Resistant Biowar Threat, Yahoo/Reuters

Excerpts: We exploited the inherent binding specificity and lytic action of bacteriophage enzymes called lysins for the rapid detection and killing of B. anthracis. Here we show that the PlyG lysine, (...) specifically kills B. anthracis (...). Both vegetative cells and germinating spores are susceptible. The lytic specificity of PlyG was also exploited as part of a rapid method for the identification of B. anthracis. We conclude that PlyG is a tool for the treatment and detection of B. anthracis.

A Bacteriolytic Agent That Detects And Kills Bacillus anthracis, Raymond Schuch, Daniel Nelson, Vincent A. Fischetti, Nature 418, 884 - 889 (2002); doi:10.1038/nature01026

 