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May 16, 2003

U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"USC Scientists Make Key Discovery"

State (SC) (web.thestate.com/content/columbia/front)  P. B1; Lamb, Linda H.

University of South Carolina researcher and bacteriologist Alvin Fox believes that a glycoprotein which surrounds each anthrax spore and which contains a carbohydrate unique to anthrax could lead them to a more effective vaccine against the disease, as well as to improved detection of anthrax spores.  The substance is an easy target for vaccine or detection, according to Fox, and preventing the substance from binding to the lungs could prevent disease.  The existing anthrax vaccine targets the bacterium later in the process.  Researchers note that the anthrax vaccine could take up to 10 years to produce, but a better method of detecting the presence of anthrax could soon be available.