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Anthrax: Researchers Map Third Toxin New research into the structure of the anthrax bacterium might help in developing more effective treatments against bioterrorism, the Associated Press reported today. Meanwhile, federal authorities began to investigate missing pathogen samples from the U.S. Army bioresearch facility, according to reports (see GSN, Jan. 22). Researchers at the University of Chicago and the Boston Biomedical Research Institute have mapped out the structure of the third of three key anthrax toxins, according to the AP (see GSN, Oct. 24). The toxin, called the edema factor, causes an adrenaline overload that results in swelling and fluid buildup in the body. Cells affected by the edema factor become hyperactive and ultimately die after losing the ability to control their environment, the AP reported. The toxin “causes an adrenaline increase that mimics the response to outside stimuli, like running away from a fire,” said Wei-Jen Tang, head of the University of Chicago team. “But in this case, you keep running and running.” The edema factor research is published in today’s issue of the journal Nature. While researchers had already known of the existence of three anthrax toxins, they had only mapped the structure of two of the toxins until now, the AP reported. The first toxin cuts open cell walls while the second kills off the host’s immune cells. The third enhances the total effect. Anthrax “would be a relatively harmless soil-dwelling bacterium,” if not for the three toxins, said Robert Liddington of the Burnham Institute. The edema factor research is expected to help researchers come up with better treatments, according to the AP. “When you start talking about what actually goes on in an infected human or animal host, the complexities are just mind-boggling,” said R. John Collier of Harvard Medical School. “It’s excellent research that really fills a major void in our understanding of this toxic system” (William McCall, Associated Press/Boston Globe, Jan. 24). Because the three toxins work together to wreak havoc on the body, however, treatments that only counter the edema factor may not be effective, experts said. “It’s still only guess work as to what’s the best target,” Liddington said. He added the best treatment might be one that disrupts the toxins as they work together. “There’s still a big hole in our knowledge from that point of view,” however, Liddington said (Tom Clarke, Nature, Jan. 24). “Amerithrax” Investigation Developments Federal investigators are looking into reports of missing samples of anthrax and other deadly pathogens at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases at Fort Detrick, Md., an army spokeswoman said Tuesday. “We just have to have a policy here to let the FBI handle these questions,” Ray said. “It’s an ongoing investigation.” The General Accounting Office is also examining the army’s investigation of the missing pathogen samples, according to the Hartford Courant. The GAO hopes the army’s 1992 report into the missing USAMRIID pathogens might detail how the U.S. military investigates security lapses, said GAO auditor Carolyn Feis Korman. She added that USAMRIID would be one of several government research facilities that would be investigated. The GAO became involved after six U.S. congressmen requested an investigation into security measures at laboratories that work with biological agents such as anthrax, the Courant reported. “Because of lax security in some labs, research materials are potentially accessible to individuals or groups intent on harming U.S. interests and citizens through the creation and application of weapons of mass destruction,” the congressmen wrote in their investigation request to the GAO (Dolan/Altimari, Hartford Courant, Jan. 23). Federal officials yesterday doubled the reward in the anthrax case to $2.5 million and said they would soon mail fliers to central New Jersey residents, especially those around Trenton, in an attempt to drum up more leads in the case (see GSN, Jan. 23). Trenton has become a focus of investigators because it is where four of the anthrax-tainted letters were postmarked. The fliers include an image of the handwriting taken from the envelopes of the anthrax-tainted letters and an FBI profile of the type of person believed to be responsible for the attacks, according to the Los Angeles Times. Investigators will initially mail 500,000 copies. “Look at your neighbor and see if he fits this profile,” said Kevin Burke, postal inspector for northern New Jersey (Megan Garvey, Los Angeles Times, Jan. 24).
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