Advances in Fighting Anthrax

On August 28, 2006, BBC News reported in the online article “Scientists find ‘anthrax blocker’” (found at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/5284996.stm) that researchers have created an inhibitor to aid in the current treatment of individuals infected by the deadly anthrax disease.

Anthrax is an infectious toxin that invades the body’s through viruses, bacteria, or spores. Such simple modes of intoxication, such as inhalation, have made the disease famous in its uses for bioterrorism purposes. Current treatment for anthrax consists of antibiotics which can only prevent the fatal effects of the pathogens from progressing faster. The toxin’s structure can change and transform, making it much harder for a consistent antibiotic treatment to effectively work. Easy methods of mutation by persons in a laboratory setting also present an additional fallibility to current antibiotics and add to the uncertainty of more unknown bioterrorist threats. Thus, the death rate of those infected by anthrax is seventy-five percent even with the availability and use of antibiotics. To overcome the obstacle of any antibiotic resistance, the newly discovered inhibitor attaches to the same bodily receptors at multiple sites where the anthrax pathogen links itself, allowing any antibiotics to attach to the inhibitor instead of the mutating pathogen. Called a polyvalent inhibitor, the blocker makes similar “receptor-binding peptides” in order to be more effective in fighting the toxin.

Though extensive research and development has been done regarding this new ‘anthrax blocker,’ scientists and experts all agree that although benefits can be found, more work must be performed. Dr. Ravi Kane of New York’s Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute states that using the new blocker in conjunction with current antibiotic treatments will likely aid anthrax victims by counteracting the poisonous pathogen. Observing rats as test subjects, Oxford University scientists have carefully tried different variations of the inhibitor to determine the best structure possible without any ill side affects to the animals. The next step for researchers is to branch out their findings with the application of the blocker to human beings. Even more imperative is the scientists’ role of planning and precision in order to explore uncharted territory without severely risking patients or worsening the deteriorative process of anthrax in people tested. However, scientists also find other positive uses for such a discovery. Dr. Shiranee Sriskandan of London’s Imperial College points out that the inhibitor can be used in new ways to find activity that would help prevent the spread of other toxins such as SARS, influenza, and Aids. Sriskandan is careful to warn that the inhibitor at this point can only aid current anthrax treatments and vaccination, not solve the problem. At this stage of the fight against anthrax, scientists must possess vigilance and steadfastness to see if real-life cases can be effectively treated, which could take decades to determine.

Widespread concern for such rapidly-spreading ailments like anthrax and HIV-Aids seem to rise and fall with the waves of publicity from news coverage of a dangerous event concerning the disease. The public spotlight on anthrax as a bioterrorist weapon in recent years had put a higher importance on the advances made in treating the fatal infection. Such a discovery illustrates a great testament to the consistency of scientists and the field of medicine to keep discussing and exploring the issues that may be disregarded or pushed aside by the general knowledge of the public. This is a reminder that there is always space into which our scientific facts can expand. We do not always know everything in practicing healthcare, and there still exists many realms of unexplored ground in innumerable aspects of medicine.