1950
1972
2001
2011
The first anthrax vaccine for humans was created.
The study determined that the vaccine was 92.5%
effective in preventing cutaneous anthrax.
Treaty signed to prohibit
biological and toxic weapons,
including weaponised Anthrax.
Anthrax attack on America. Letters
filled with a white powder containing anthrax
spores were sent to two U.S. Senators’ offices, the
Pentagon among others. 22 people were inflicted,
resulting in 5 casualties.
不過殺傷力最強的還是吸入性炭疽感染，即使接
受診斷和抗生素治療，死亡率仍是很高。根據美國疾
病控制與預防中心的資料，錄得的18例吸入性炭疽
病，死亡率逾85%。吸入肺內的芽孢觸發早期免疫反
應，刺激巨噬細胞圍繞及吞噬異物。不過，炭疽桿菌
非但不死，而且可以在細胞內發芽，並被輸送到淋巴
結與血液內，因此增加桿菌的殺傷力[3]。
治療炭疽感染主要是給予抗生素，但要趕及在細
菌分泌過多毒素前施救，否則病情就不可逆轉。炭疽
會成為有效的生化武器，就是因為在感染初期呈現
的癥狀為非特異性，容易導致誤診和延誤治療。專家
一直在研發可以抑制三種毒素蛋白的抗體。目前為
止，他們已成功利用藥物「Adefovir」抗阻水腫因子
（產生毒素擾亂信號通路的蛋白之一）。Adefovir原
是為針對B型肝炎而設計。有關研究還處於嬰兒期的
階段，尚有很多工作要開展。
Dan Anders miraculously survived
inhalation anthrax. This case
remains a medical mystery.
References
[1] Jernigan DB, Raghunathan PL, Bell BP, Brechner R, Bresnitz
EA, Butler JC, et al. Investigation of bioterrorism-related
anthrax (2001). Emerging Infectious Diseases, CDC. DOI:
10.3201/eid0810.020353
[2] Dixon, T. C., Meselson, M., Guillemin, J., Hanna, P.C.,
(2000). Anthrax. The New England Journal of Medicine.
DOI: 10.1056
[3] Mechanism of Anthrax Toxins, Qiagen, Retrieved from
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