A dually active anthrax vaccine that confers protection against both bacilli and toxins
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2003•National Acad Sciences
Systemic anthrax is caused by unimpeded bacillar replication and toxin secretion. We
developed a dually active anthrax vaccine (DAAV) that confers simultaneous protection
against both bacilli and toxins. DAAV was constructed by conjugating capsular poly-γ-d-
glutamic acid (PGA) to protective antigen (PA), converting the weakly immunogenic PGA to a
potent immunogen, and synergistically enhancing the humoral response to PA. PGA-specific
antibodies bound to encapsulated bacilli and promoted the killing of bacilli by complement …
developed a dually active anthrax vaccine (DAAV) that confers simultaneous protection
against both bacilli and toxins. DAAV was constructed by conjugating capsular poly-γ-d-
glutamic acid (PGA) to protective antigen (PA), converting the weakly immunogenic PGA to a
potent immunogen, and synergistically enhancing the humoral response to PA. PGA-specific
antibodies bound to encapsulated bacilli and promoted the killing of bacilli by complement …
Systemic anthrax is caused by unimpeded bacillar replication and toxin secretion. We developed a dually active anthrax vaccine (DAAV) that confers simultaneous protection against both bacilli and toxins. DAAV was constructed by conjugating capsular poly-γ-d-glutamic acid (PGA) to protective antigen (PA), converting the weakly immunogenic PGA to a potent immunogen, and synergistically enhancing the humoral response to PA. PGA-specific antibodies bound to encapsulated bacilli and promoted the killing of bacilli by complement. PA-specific antibodies neutralized toxin activity and protected immunized mice against lethal challenge with anthrax toxin. Thus, DAAV combines both antibacterial and antitoxic components in a single vaccine against anthrax. DAAV introduces a vaccine design that may be widely applicable against infectious diseases and provides additional tools in medicine and biodefense.
National Acad Sciences