[Anthrax revisited: Bacillus anthracis toxins as novel actors of immune escape?]

Bull Acad Natl Med. 2006 Jan;190(1):155-63; discussion 163-7.
[Article in French]

Abstract

The recent bioterrorist attacks have stressed the need of a better knowledge of Bacillus anthracis infection pathophysiology. We present here the increasing interests of B. anthracis studies in term of bio-defense, the main pathogen characteristics, the main clinical features of inhalational anthrax (the pulmonary form of the disease), and recent aspects of its physiopathology. Next, we address the main results concerning the toxin effects on immune system through impairing the dendritic cell functions, and we analyze the singular role of anthrax toxins in immune evasion.

Publication types

  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, Bacterial / physiology*
  • Bacillus anthracis / pathogenicity*
  • Bacterial Toxins
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology*
  • Dendritic Cells / microbiology*
  • Mice

Substances

  • Antigens, Bacterial
  • Bacterial Toxins
  • anthrax toxin