Studies of the Biological and Molecular Basis of the Inhibition of Activity of Phagocytic Cells by Anthrax Toxin
Abstract
The primary effect of anthrax toxin on polymorphonclear neutrophils (PMN) is the inhibition of priming by bacterial products, as represented by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and by muramyl dipeptide, a synthetic mitogen to bacterial peptidoglycans. Priming increases superoxide release and enzyme exocytosis of PMN after simulation with chemotactic peptide; inhibition of priming by prior treatment with toxin reduces these critical antimicrobial functions. These observations could explain the major contribution of the toxin to virulence of Bacillus anthracis. Priming inhibits chemotaxis of PMN; inhibition of priming by LPS present as a contaminant evidently is responsible for the apparent stimulation of chemotaxis by prior treatment of PMN with toxin. Priming is mediated by factors released from platelets and probably other cells by bacterial products.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1988
- Accession Number
- ADA194645
Entities
People
- George G. Wright
Organizations
- University of Virginia