1. Who is Bacillus? Gram + spore former Good things about Bacillus?

2. Bacillus anthracis Name derived from coal Non-motile, aerobic, 1-8 um long, look like jointed bamboo rod Spores readily germinate ar 37C Colonies are diagnostic– curled hair colony Need rich environment to germinate Full virulence required 3 toxin components Vegetative cell poor survival outside host, spores survive decades Spores natural in soil--

3. The toxin Protective antigen () Lethan factor () Edema factor ()

4. The disease Inhalation Cutaneous Gastero No reported cases in US since 1978

5. Inhalation anthrax Spores deposited in the alveolar spaces Macrophage ingest spores Once germination occurs disease follows rapidly. But germination can occur up to 60 days later… Toxins ause hemorrhage, edema, necrosis Antibiotics no longer help once toxins reach critical concentration 2 stages to illness: nonspecific, and then too late…

6. Diagnosis and vaccination No early system diagnosis Vaccine last about 100 days antibiotics

7. How serious is the threat? 50kg released over a pop of 5 million- 100-250 thousand would die without treatment 130 000-3 million deaths if aerosolized release of 100kg over DC= lethality equal or exceeding H2 atomic bomb If 20mill spores/m2, soldier excercising for 3h 1000-15 000 spores inhaled; LD 50 is 2500-55000 spores Cost 26 billion/100 000 treated Genomics and biotech-- good and bad

8. Other threats Smallpox Plaque Others?