Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention of Diseases Associated with Bioterrorism

该项目的研究目前集中在四个方面。这些是2001年炭疽袭击幸存者的特征；细胞因子表达电疣致病性因素的评价新出现的呼吸道感染的特征，包括SARS和流感；以及禽流感新疗法的发展。炭疽研究招募了一组志愿者，他们目前正在进行广泛的诊断评估。在非人类灵长类动物中进行的一项研究确定，在接触炭疽孢子后，作为预防吸入性炭疽发展的手段，接触后接种疫苗加抗生素优于单独使用抗生素。为了准备好应对新出现的呼吸道传染病，已经制定了一项方案，系统地研究出现相容症状复合物的患者。该方案已被开发的治疗方案所补充，该方案将利用对SARS病毒的超免疫Ig。为了应对禽流感的威胁，在与世界卫生组织、欢迎信托基金以及一系列学术和政府组织的合作下，在东南亚建立了一个临床研究网络，该网络将能够开展侧重于新出现的流感爆发的特征和治疗的研究。该网络中的第一个方案是检查标准剂量与双倍剂量奥司他韦治疗严重流感病例的效果。为了探索禽流感的新治疗方法，已经完成了一项使用H5N1疫苗对正常志愿者进行超免疫的方案。这些志愿者的血浆被用来制造超免疫球蛋白。

Research in this project is currently focused on four areas. These are characterization of the survivors of the anthrax attacks of 2001; evaluation of the factors underlying pathogenicity in cytokine expressing ectromelia; characterization of emerging respiratory infections including SARS and influenza; and development of novel therapies for avian flu. The anthrax study has enrolled a cohort of volunteers who are currently undergoing an extensive diagnostic evaluation. A study in non-human primates determined that post-exposure vaccination plus antibiotics was superior to antibiotics alone as a means of preventing the development of inhalational anthrax following exposure to anthrax spores. To be ready to deal with emerging infectious diseases of the respiratory tract, a protocol has been developed to systematically study patients presenting with a compatible symptom complex. This protocol has been complemented by the development of treatment protocol that will utilize hyperimmune Ig to the SARS virus. In response to the threat of avian influenza, in collaboration with the World Health Organization, the Welcome Trust and a series of academic and government organizations, a clinical research network has been established in SE Asia that will be able to conduct studies focused on the characterization and treatment of emerging influenza outbreaks. The first protocol in this network is examining the effects of standard vs. double dose oseltamivir in treating severe cases of influenza. To explore novel therapeutic approaches to avian influenza a protocol has been completed to hyperimmunize normal volunteers with an H5N1 vaccine. The plasma from these volunteers is being utilized to generate a hyperimmune Ig.