Anthrax Resistance Gene Identified in Mice ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- WESTPORT, CT (Reuters Health) Oct 02 - Researchers have identified a gene in mice that mediates macrophage resistance to anthrax lethal toxin (LeTx), according to a report published in the October 2nd issue of Current Biology. If demonstrated in human cells, this finding could have important implications in the event of an attack with a biological agent. While the locus responsible for anthrax toxin resistance had been mapped to chromosome 11, the exact gene responsible for resistance had never been identified, the authors state. In the current study, Dr. William F. Dietrich, from Harvard Medical School in Boston, and colleagues evaluated the susceptibility of various murine macrophage strains to LeTx. Within the previously identified locus, the researchers found only one gene that differed between susceptible and resistant strains. The gene identified encoded a kinesin-like protein, known as Kif1C. Treatment with a chemical that alters the cellular localization of Kif1C induced LeTx susceptibility in formerly resistant strains. In contrast, ectopic expression of a resistance allele of Kif1C promoted survival in susceptible strains. "We don't know yet whether human macrophages vary in their susceptibility to the toxin," Dr. Dietrich told Reuters Health. "However, we can isolate and test human macrophages, so this is clearly an answerable question," he said. "If they do vary in their susceptibility, it will be interesting to see if this can be accounted for by differences in the human homologue of Kif1C gene," he added. "If the human macrophage research pans out it might lead to some sort of diagnostic test," Dr. Dietrich noted. "But then the question becomes 'what do we do with such a test?' " he said. "Determining a patient's susceptibility might facilitate triage and help guide clinical decision making." Dr. Dietrich also pointed out that "anthrax involves a couple different processes. There's the bacterial infection component which...can be controlled, and then there's the toxin aspect which is difficult to control," he said. "So if a patient is "resistant to the toxin, treatment could focus on the bacterial infection aspect." "I don't view the Kif1C protein as being a drug target itself," Dr. Dietrich emphasized. However, further research into the pathways involved may reveal molecules that could be pharmacologic targets, he added. Current Biol 2001;11:1503-1511. -- The silver-list is a moderated forum for discussion of colloidal silver. To join or quit silver-list or silver-digest send an e-mail message to: silver-list-requ...@eskimo.com -or- silver-digest-requ...@eskimo.com with the word subscribe or unsubscribe in the SUBJECT line. To post, address your message to: silver-list@eskimo.com Silver-list archive: http://escribe.com/health/thesilverlist/index.html List maintainer: Mike Devour <mdev...@eskimo.com>
