Scientists find 'anthrax blocker'

[DoYouEverWonder]

28 August 2006

Scientists say they have made a blocker that could stop the lethal anthrax toxin from attacking the body.

The inhibitor binds to the receptors in the body where anthrax attaches.

Using receptors as the treatment target rather than the toxin itself should get round the problem of antibiotic resistance, PNAS journal reports.

The same approach could also be used to stop other deadly invaders such as SARS, influenza and Aids, the US and Canadian researchers said.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/5284996.stm


Hope this stuff works, considering the fact that the Anthrax killer is still on the loose.

[bahrbearian]

1. I'm sure Chimpy had that in 2000...

[katinmn]

2. The FBI knows who the anthrax killer is but is keeping it a secret

while they "continue their investigations."

It was a scientist on contract with the US government. Seriously.

[Vidar]

3. Yup.

[drm604]

4. Where's your proof.

Seriously, if you know something tell us and show us the proof.

[DoYouEverWonder]

5. Only someone on the inside

could have had access to weapons grade anthrax.

Considering the fact that after 5 years the case has gone nowhere, but amazingly the killer never struck again, should be enough evidence that the government is hiding something or rather someone.

[katinmn]

6. It's fairly widely known

I researched and wrote about it this spring for a medical journal. Exerpt:

The Council for Responsible Genetics lists 30 incidents involving environmental releases, containment and security breaches, missing samples, and exposure and infection of personnel occurring at bioresearch labs since 1985. The mistakes include the disappearance of anthrax and Ebola viruses from the US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases in the 1990s. The 2001 anthrax attacks are believed by the FBI to have been caused by a scientist with access to a government laboratory.
http://www.neurologyreviews.com/mar06/bioterrorism.html

You are free to research it yourself. Lots of data out there. Google within Time magazine and the Council for Responsible Genetics which keeps a database of security breaches.

[seriousstan]

15. Proof? We don't need no stinking proof!

The lack of proof IS the proof. Once you prove the conspiracy you no longer need to prove how they did it. (That's an actual line out of the 9/11 dungeon.)

[Kailassa]

7. So now it's easier for the government to attack us with it ... n/t

[tanyev]

8. And some pharmaceutical company can make tons of money

off of it the next time an anthrax scare rolls around.

[Kailassa]

9. And Cheney will own a heap of shares in it.

There is nothing like profiting from your own misdeeds.

[happydreams]

19. This subthread is so ....

"conspiratorial". But, coincidently, exactly what I was thinking.

[TechBear_Seattle]

10. Any word on who was responsible for the anthrax attacks?

You know, the ones that were all directed at well known (and mostly out-of-power) liberals just after 9/11?

[DoYouEverWonder]

11. You mean the one where they shut down the Hart Office Building

for months but let the ABC Newroom stay open for business?

[TechBear_Seattle]

12. Yeah, that's the one!

I mean, if Science is good enough to find a way of fighting anthrax, certainly Science is good enough to find someone who used anthrax as a terrorist attack.

Right?

[katinmn]

13. See posts #2 and #6

[Ilsa]

14. While some Big Pharmaceutical will get even richer, anthrax will

be one less weapon this administration can use as a fear tactic against us.

[Marrah_G]

16. Anyone know what it's made of?

Currently it's treated with Cipro, an anti-biotic with NASTY side effects. The drug left me unable to move my arms and legs this past winter along with permanent nerve damage in my hands and feet. The postal workers treated with it had filed a class action suit involving not only the peripheral neuropathy I suffer(ed) but also spontaneously rupturing tendons and other unpleasant effects. As long as it is not quinalone based it's great news for me. Side effects are rare but tend have a higher percent of severe ones when they occur. Even though the chance of coming in contact with Anthrax is a long shot, it would be nice to know those who cannot take the current treatments and are at risk could avoid the chance of permanent disability, such as postal/mail-room/clerical workers.

[katinmn]

17. You were given an experimental anthrax vaccine?

I hope you're okay now but sounds like you still have some lingering effects.

Rupturing tendons? That sounds horrible and truly bizzarre that they would give a drug so freely that has potentially disastrous results.

Sounds like another scam to benefit big pharma to me. But I'm a skeptic.

When they rolled out the experimental swine flu vaccine and vaccinated a couple million people about 10,000 developed Guillan-Barre Syndrome, an inflammatory disorder of the peripheral nerves. It sounds similar to what you and your collegaues developed.

From the Mayo:

Guillain-Barre (ge-YAH buh-RA) syndrome (GBS) is an inflammatory disorder in which your body's immune system attacks the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord (peripheral nerves) and, rarely, parts of the brain itself. Severe weakness and numbness in your legs and arms characterize GBS. Loss of feeling and movement (paralysis) may occur in your legs, arms, upper body and face.

GBS affects an estimated one to three in every 100,000 persons annually in the United States. It can strike any race at any age, but its incidence increases with age. GBS may occur within days or weeks after a viral infection such as influenza (flu) or diarrhea. It may be triggered by pregnancy or a medical procedure, such as a vaccination or minor surgery, or have no evident reason for developing. Because the cause of GBS is unknown, there's no way to prevent the disease from occurring.

In its most severe form, GBS is a medical emergency and may require hospitalization. Severe GBS may result in total paralysis, potentially dangerous fluctuations in heart rate and blood pressure, and inability to breathe without respiratory assistance. The muscles you use for eye movement, speaking, chewing and swallowing also may become weak or paralyzed. People with severe GBS often need long-term rehabilitation to regain normal independence, and as many as 15 percent experience lasting physical impairment. In some cases, GBS can be fatal.

Most people recover from even the most severe cases of GBS. Available treatments, if started soon after signs and symptoms appear, may lessen the severity of GBS and reduce recovery time.

[Marrah_G]

20. Not an experimental

It's an anti-biotic called Cipro used for bacterial infections. I had been hospitalized for a severe kidney infection that went into my blood. After being discharged I went home and was put on Cipro. 5 days later I was in the ER tired, weak and with numb hands and feet. They ran every test under the sun and sent me home. Two days later I was calling 911 for the first time in my life because I could no longer walk.

It was not GBS, although that was their first thought also.

Here are some links:

http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/anthrax/treatment/cipropatient.asp

http://www.rxlist.com/rxboard/levaquin.pl?noframes;read=1355

http://www.fqresearch.org/ciprofloxacin.htm

I now look up all drugs prescribed to my family no matter how routine they might seem.

Never again will myself or any of my children take any for of floroquinolones.

[DoYouEverWonder]

21. Wow, sure sounds like you've been through the mill

I hope you situation has improved?

BTW: Welcome to DU :hi:

[Marrah_G]

22. Much

I got my strength back with the help of great occupational therapists. I still have the numbness and suffer from wierd panic attacks at night, but I can walk and move again so its all good. I'm thankful Mass has such good and accessable health care.

And thanks, I've been lurking here since 2004, I just didn't register and post until recently.

[katinmn]

23. I think that's wise. In the past

I've taken whatever they have perscribed for me, too, and never used to look things up.

It's different today, though. The FDA isn't what it used to be.

Forgive my manners...Welcome to jumping into the discussion!:hi:

[Marrah_G]

24. Thanks!

I've found DU to be a (mostly) peaceful island in the sea of insanity our country has become.

[Kailassa]

25. Welcome to DU :-)

You'll find all sorts here, but there are a lot of good people amongst us.

:grouphug:

[happydreams]

18. That's a bummer, now ...

Bush will have to find another poison for his political opponents, and at taxpayers expense no less. :eyes: