scholarly journals A High-Affinity Monoclonal Antibody to Anthrax Protective Antigen Passively Protects Rabbits before and after Aerosolized Bacillus anthracis Spore Challenge

2005 ◽  
Vol 73 (2) ◽  
pp. 795-802 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nehal Mohamed ◽  
Michelle Clagett ◽  
Juan Li ◽  
Steven Jones ◽  
Steven Pincus ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Monoclonal Antibody ◽  
Bacillus Anthracis ◽  
Protective Antigen ◽  
Lethal Dose ◽  
Cell Binding ◽  
Anthrax Spore ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Anthrax Infection ◽  
Anthrax Protective Antigen ◽  
Binding Component

ABSTRACT We have developed a therapeutic for the treatment of anthrax using an affinity-enhanced monoclonal antibody (ETI-204) to protective antigen (PA), which is the central cell-binding component of the anthrax exotoxins. ETI-204 administered preexposure by a single intravenous injection of a dose of between 2.5 and 10 mg per animal significantly protected rabbits from a lethal aerosolized anthrax spore challenge (∼60 to 450 times the 50% lethal dose of Bacillus anthracis Ames). Against a similar challenge, ETI-204 administered intramuscularly at a 20-mg dose per animal completely protected rabbits from death (100% survival). In the postexposure setting, intravenous administration of ETI-204 provided protection 24 h (8 of 10) and 36 h (5 of 10) after spore challenge. Administration at 48 h postchallenge, when 3 of 10 animals had already succumbed to anthrax infection, resulted in the survival of 3 of 7 animals (43%) for the duration of the study (28 days). Importantly, surviving ETI-204-treated animals were free of bacteremia by day 10 and remained so until the end of the studies. Only 11 of 51 ETI-204-treated rabbits had positive lung cultures at the end of the studies. Also, rabbits that were protected from inhalational anthrax by administration of ETI-204 developed significant titers of PA-specific antibodies. Presently, the sole therapeutic regimen available to treat infection by inhalation of B. anthracis spores is a 60-day course of antibiotics that is effective only if administered prior to or shortly after exposure. Based upon results reported here, ETI-204 is an effective therapy for prevention and treatment of inhalational anthrax.

scholarly journals Establishment of a New Zealand White Rabbit Model for Lethal Toxin (LT) Challenge and Efficacy of Monoclonal Antibody 5E11 in the LT-Challenged Rabbit Model

Toxins ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 289 ◽  
Author(s):  
Duanyang Zhang ◽  
Weicen Liu ◽  
Zhonghua Wen ◽  
Bing Li ◽  
Shuling Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Monoclonal Antibody ◽  
Protective Antigen ◽  
Lethal Dose ◽  
Rabbit Model ◽  
Zealand White Rabbit ◽  
Lethal Toxin ◽  
Anthrax Spores ◽  
Level 3 ◽  
Anthrax Protective Antigen ◽  
Biosafety Level

Anthrax caused by Bacillus anthracis is a lethal infectious disease, especially when inhaled, and the mortality rate approaches 100% without treatment. The anthrax antitoxin monoclonal antibody (MAb) 5E11 is a humanized antibody that targets the anthrax protective antigen (PA). The efficacy of 5E11 needs proper animal models. However, anthrax spores are extremely dangerous, so experiments must be conducted under Biosafety Level 3 conditions. Considering the critical effects of lethal toxin (LT) on hosts during infection, we report the establishment of a LT-challenged rabbit model, which caused 100% mortality with a dose of 2 mg PA + 1 mg LF, while a 4 mg PA + 2 mg LF challenge could limit death to within three days. Then, we evaluated 5E11 efficacy against LT. A prophylactic study showed that the i.v. administration of 40 mg/kg 5E11 four days before lethal dose LT challenge could lead to 100% survival. In therapeutic studies, the i.v. administration of 40 mg/kg 5E11 10 min after lethal dose LT challenge could provide complete protection. Overall, we developed a new LT-challenged rabbit model, and our results indicate that 5E11 shows potential for the clinical application in anthrax treatment.

scholarly journals Development of Protective Immunity in New Zealand White Rabbits Challenged with Bacillus anthracis Spores and Treated with Antibiotics and Obiltoxaximab, a Monoclonal Antibody against Protective Antigen

2017 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa N. Henning ◽  
Sarah Carpenter ◽  
Gregory V. Stark ◽  
Natalya V. Serbina
Keyword(s):  
Monoclonal Antibody ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Bacillus Anthracis ◽  
Protective Immunity ◽  
Protective Antigen ◽  
Lethal Dose ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Anamnestic Response ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Treatment Regimens

ABSTRACT The recommended management of inhalational anthrax, a high-priority bioterrorist threat, includes antibiotics and antitoxins. Obiltoxaximab, a chimeric monoclonal antibody against anthrax protective antigen (PA), is licensed under the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) Animal Rule for the treatment of inhalational anthrax. Because of spore latency, disease reemergence after treatment cessation is a concern, and there is a need to understand the development of endogenous protective immune responses following antitoxin-containing anthrax treatment regimens. Here, acquired protective immunity was examined in New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits challenged with a targeted lethal dose of Bacillus anthracis spores and treated with antibiotics, obiltoxaximab, or a combination of both. Survivors of the primary challenge were rechallenged 9 months later and monitored for survival. Survival rates after primary and rechallenge for controls and animals treated with obiltoxaximab, levofloxacin, or a combination of both were 0, 65, 100, and 95%, and 0, 100, 95, and 89%, respectively. All surviving immune animals had circulating antibodies to PA and serum toxin-neutralizing titers prior to rechallenge. Following rechallenge, systemic bacteremia and toxemia were not detected in most animals, and the levels of circulating anti-PA IgG titers increased starting at 5 days postrechallenge. We conclude that treatment with obiltoxaximab, alone or combined with antibiotics, significantly improves the survival of rabbits that received a lethal inhalation B. anthracis spore challenge dose and does not interfere with the development of immunity. Survivors of primary challenge are protected against reexposure, have rare incidents of systemic bacteremia and toxemia, and have evidence of an anamnestic response.

scholarly journals Development of an Inhalational Bacillus anthracis Exposure Therapeutic Model in Cynomolgus Macaques

2012 ◽  
Vol 19 (11) ◽  
pp. 1765-1775 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa N. Henning ◽  
Jason E. Comer ◽  
Gregory V. Stark ◽  
Bryan D. Ray ◽  
Kevin P. Tordoff ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Monoclonal Antibody ◽  
Bacillus Anthracis ◽  
Protective Antigen ◽  
Lethal Dose ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Cynomolgus Macaque ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Clinical Observations ◽  
Medical Countermeasures ◽  
Therapeutic Model

ABSTRACTAppropriate animal models are required to test medical countermeasures to bioterrorist threats. To that end, we characterized a nonhuman primate (NHP) inhalational anthrax therapeutic model for use in testing anthrax therapeutic medical countermeasures according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Animal Rule. A clinical profile was recorded for each NHP exposed to a lethal dose ofBacillus anthracisAmes spores. Specific diagnostic parameters were detected relatively early in disease progression, i.e., by blood culture (∼37 h postchallenge) and the presence of circulating protective antigen (PA) detected by electrochemiluminescence (ECL) ∼38 h postchallenge, whereas nonspecific clinical signs of disease, i.e., changes in body temperature, hematologic parameters (ca. 52 to 66 h), and clinical observations, were delayed. To determine whether the presentation of antigenemia (PA in the blood) was an appropriate trigger for therapeutic intervention, a monoclonal antibody specific for PA was administered to 12 additional animals after the circulating levels of PA were detected by ECL. Seventy-five percent of the monoclonal antibody-treated animals survived compared to 17% of the untreated controls, suggesting that intervention at the onset of antigenemia is an appropriate treatment trigger for this model. Moreover, the onset of antigenemia correlated with bacteremia, and NHPs were treated in a therapeutic manner. Interestingly, brain lesions were observed by histopathology in the treated nonsurviving animals, whereas this observation was absent from 90% of the nonsurviving untreated animals. Our results support the use of the cynomolgus macaque as an appropriate therapeutic animal model for assessing the efficacy of medical countermeasures developed against anthrax when administered after a confirmation of infection.

scholarly journals Detection of Anthrax Toxin in the Serum of Animals Infected with Bacillus anthracis by Using Engineered Immunoassays

2006 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 671-677 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Mabry ◽  
Kathleen Brasky ◽  
Robert Geiger ◽  
Ricardo Carrion ◽  
Gene B. Hubbard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bacillus Anthracis ◽  
Protective Antigen ◽  
Lethal Factor ◽  
Systemic Circulation ◽  
Rapid Identification ◽  
Anthrax Toxin ◽  
Soluble Form ◽  
Before And After

ABSTRACT Several strategies that target anthrax toxin are being developed as therapies for infection by Bacillus anthracis. Although the action of the tripartite anthrax toxin has been extensively studied in vitro, relatively little is known about the presence of toxins during an infection in vivo. We developed a series of sensitive sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) for detection of both the protective antigen (PA) and lethal factor (LF) components of the anthrax exotoxin in serum. The assays utilize as capture agents an engineered high-affinity antibody to PA, a soluble form of the extracellular domain of the anthrax toxin receptor (ANTXR2/CMG2), or PA itself. Sandwich immunoassays were used to detect and quantify PA and LF in animals infected with the Ames or Vollum strains of anthrax spores. PA and LF were detected before and after signs of toxemia were observed, with increasing levels reported in the late stages of the infection. These results represent the detection of free PA and LF by ELISA in the systemic circulation of two animal models exposed to either of the two fully virulent strains of anthrax. Simple anthrax toxin detection ELISAs could prove useful in the evaluation of potential therapies and possibly as a clinical diagnostic to complement other strategies for the rapid identification of B. anthracis infection.

scholarly journals A Recombinant Carboxy-Terminal Domain of the Protective Antigen of Bacillus anthracis Protects Mice against Anthrax Infection

2002 ◽  
Vol 70 (3) ◽  
pp. 1653-1656 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helen C. Flick-Smith ◽  
Nicola J. Walker ◽  
Paula Gibson ◽  
Helen Bullifent ◽  
Sarah Hayward ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bacillus Anthracis ◽  
Fusion Proteins ◽  
Protective Antigen ◽  
Protective Efficacy ◽  
Terminal Domain ◽  
Carboxy Terminal Domain ◽  
Anthrax Infection ◽  
Carboxy Terminal ◽  
Domain 4

ABSTRACT The immunogenicity and protective efficacy of overlapping regions of the protective antigen (PA) polypeptide, cloned and expressed as glutathione S-transferase fusion proteins, have been assessed. Results show that protection can be attributed to individual domains and imply that it is domain 4 which contains the dominant protective epitopes of PA.

scholarly journals Toxin-Deficient Mutants of Bacillus anthracis Are Lethal in a Murine Model for Pulmonary Anthrax

2006 ◽  
Vol 74 (11) ◽  
pp. 6067-6074 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Heninger ◽  
Melissa Drysdale ◽  
Julie Lovchik ◽  
Julie Hutt ◽  
Mary F. Lipscomb ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bacillus Anthracis ◽  
Murine Model ◽  
Parent Strain ◽  
Protective Antigen ◽  
Histopathological Examination ◽  
Lethal Factor ◽  
Lethal Dose ◽  
Etiologic Agent ◽  
Time To Death ◽  
Edema Factor

ABSTRACT Bacillus anthracis, the etiologic agent of anthrax, produces at least three primary virulence factors: lethal toxin, edema toxin, and a capsule. The capsule is absolutely required for dissemination and lethality in a murine model of inhalation anthrax, yet the roles for the toxins during infection are ill-defined. We show in a murine model that when spores of specific toxin-null mutants are introduced into the lung, dissemination and lethality are comparable to those of the parent strain. Mutants lacking one or more of the structural genes for the toxin proteins, i.e., protective antigen, lethal factor, and edema factor, disseminated from the lung to the spleen at rates similar to that of the virulent parental strain. The 50% lethal dose (LD50) and mean time to death (MTD) of the mutants did not differ significantly from those of the parent. The LD50s or MTDs were also unaffected relative to those of the parent strain when mice were inoculated intravenously with vegetative cells. Nonetheless, histopathological examination of tissues revealed subtle but distinct differences in infections by the parent compared to some toxin mutants, suggesting that the host response is affected by toxin proteins synthesized during infection.

scholarly journals Immunization with a Recombinant, Pseudomonas fluorescens-Expressed, Mutant Form of Bacillus anthracis-Derived Protective Antigen Protects Rabbits from Anthrax Infection

PLoS ONE ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. e0130952 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew D. Reed ◽  
Julie A. Wilder ◽  
William M. Mega ◽  
Julie A. Hutt ◽  
Philip J. Kuehl ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bacillus Anthracis ◽  
Pseudomonas Fluorescens ◽  
Protective Antigen ◽  
Mutant Form ◽  
Anthrax Infection

scholarly journals Human Monoclonal Antibody AVP-21D9 to Protective Antigen Reduces Dissemination of the Bacillus anthracis Ames Strain from the Lungs in a Rabbit Model

2007 ◽  
Vol 75 (7) ◽  
pp. 3414-3424 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johnny W. Peterson ◽  
Jason E. Comer ◽  
Wallace B. Baze ◽  
David M. Noffsinger ◽  
Autumn Wenglikowski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Monoclonal Antibody ◽  
Bacillus Anthracis ◽  
Protective Antigen ◽  
Human Monoclonal Antibody ◽  
Rabbit Model ◽  
Concomitant Treatment ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Lethal Challenge ◽  
Tissue Sections ◽  
Inhalation Anthrax

ABSTRACT Dutch-belted and New Zealand White rabbits were passively immunized with AVP-21D9, a human monoclonal antibody to protective antigen (PA), at the time of Bacillus anthracis spore challenge using either nasal instillation or aerosol challenge techniques. AVP-21D9 (10 mg/kg) completely protected both rabbit strains against lethal infection with Bacillus anthracis Ames spores, regardless of the inoculation method. Further, all but one of the passively immunized animals (23/24) were completely resistant to rechallenge with spores by either respiratory challenge method at 5 weeks after primary challenge. Analysis of the sera at 5 weeks after primary challenge showed that residual human anti-PA levels decreased by 85 to 95%, but low titers of rabbit-specific anti-PA titers were also measured. Both sources of anti-PA could have contributed to protection from rechallenge. In a subsequent study, bacteriological and histopathology analyses revealed that B. anthracis disseminated to the bloodstream in some naïve animals as early as 24 h postchallenge and increased in frequency with time. AVP-21D9 significantly reduced the dissemination of the bacteria to the bloodstream and to various organs following infection. Examination of tissue sections from infected control animals, stained with hematoxylin-eosin and the Gram stain, showed edema and/or hemorrhage in the lungs and the presence of bacteria in mediastinal lymph nodes, with necrosis and inflammation. Tissue sections from infected rabbits dosed with AVP-21D9 appeared comparable to corresponding tissues from uninfected animals despite lethal challenge with B. anthracis Ames spores. Concomitant treatment with AVP-21D9 at the time of challenge conferred complete protection in the rabbit inhalation anthrax model. Early treatment increased the efficacy progressively and in a dose-dependent manner. Thus, AVP-21D9 could offer an adjunct or alternative clinical treatment regimen against inhalation anthrax.

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