FOOD-BORNE ANTHRAX THREAT ASSESSMENT

这个子项目是许多研究子项目中利用 资源由NIH/NCRR资助的中心拨款提供。子项目和 调查员(PI)可能从NIH的另一个来源获得了主要资金， 并因此可以在其他清晰的条目中表示。列出的机构是 该中心不一定是调查人员的机构。 炭疽是一种革兰氏阳性芽胞形成细菌，可感染人类和动物。当个人接触受感染动物的材料或吸入与动物产品相关的孢子时，就会发生自然的人类感染。感染可通过三种形式发生：皮肤、吸入和胃肠道。如果不治疗，所有形式的疾病都可能导致死亡。这种疾病最致命的形式是吸入性炭疽病，表现为喉咙痛、轻度发烧、肌肉疼痛和身体不适。即使在包括使用抗生素在内的护理下，死亡率也约为50%。关于胃肠道炭疽病死亡率的信息要少得多。该项目的最终目标是评估胃肠道(GI)炭疽病作为一种潜在的大规模杀伤性武器对人们构成的看似合理的威胁。本研究的目的是明确氟喹诺酮类药物在非人类灵长类动物(NHP)中的感染剂量，明确疾病的发病机制，并评估其疗效。这项研究将首先确定在猕猴中引起胃肠道炭疽病所需的剂量。这将通过灌胃给药炭疽孢子来实现。接下来，将给动物灌胃炭疽孢子，然后用抗生素治疗，以评估治疗GI炭疽的效果。这项研究的成功完成将使人们更好地了解GI炭疽中毒，并有助于阐明氟喹诺酮治疗对GI炭疽感染的有效性。未来的目标将评估在猕猴NHP模型中，通过全脂牛奶导致疾病所需的食源性炭疽杆菌剂量。

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Anthrax is a gram-positive spore forming bacteria that infects both humans and animals. Natural human infections occur when individuals handle materials from infected animals or inhale spores associated with animal products. Infection can occur in three forms: cutaneous, inhalation and gastrointestinal. If left untreated, all forms of the disease could result in death. The most fatal form of the disease, inhalation anthrax, presents with sore throat, mild fever, muscle aches and malaise. The mortality rate is approximately 50% even with care that includes the use of antibiotics. Much less information is known about the mortality of GI anthrax. The ultimate goal for this project is to assess the plausible threat that gastrointestinal (GI) anthrax poses to the population, as a potential weapon of mass destruction. The objective of the current study aims specifically to establish an infective dose, characterize pathogenesis of disease, and assess effectiveness of fluoroquinolone treatment in non-human primates (NHP). The study will first determine the dose required to cause GI anthrax in macaques. This will be accomplished by administration of anthrax spores via gavage. Next, animals will be given anthrax spores by gavage then treated with antibiotics to assess the efficacy of the treatment against GI anthrax. The successful completion of the study will result in a better understanding of GI anthrax intoxication and permit the elucidation of the effectiveness of fluoroquinolone treatment against GI anthrax infection. Future goals would assess the food-borne dose of anthrax, via whole milk, required to cause disease in the macaque NHP model.