Medicine: Defence against anthrax

The use of anthrax spores as a biological weapon has inevitably increased interest in compounds that can counter the threat. PlyG lysin, isolated from the γ phage of Bacillus anthracis, is a strong candidate. PlyG specifically kills B. anthracis bacilli and germinating spores in vitro and in vivo. In the cover image, cell wall breakdown has caused the cytoplasmic membrane to externalize (shown circled) prior to cell lysis. The lytic specificity of PlyG can also be exploited as part of a rapid method for the identification of B. anthracis.

A bacteriolytic agent that detects and kills Bacillus anthracis
RAYMOND SCHUCH, DANIEL NELSON & VINCENT A. FISCHETTI
Nature 418, 884–889 (2002); doi:10.1038/nature01026
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Medicine: Virus deals anthrax a killer blow
M. J. ROSOVITZ & STEPHEN H. LEPPLA
The threat of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is driving researchers to think up ever more clever ways to tackle infections. An enzyme from a bacterium-killing virus may prove effective against anthrax infections.
Nature 418, 825–826 (2002); doi:10.1038/418825a
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Anthrax case provokes doubt among experts
JONATHAN KNIGHT & ERIKA CHECK
Nature 418, 808 (2002); doi:10.1038/418808a
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Anthrax exposed and killed