A research team at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has developed a new anthrax receptor inhibitor that effectively protected six rats exposed to anthrax. The team took a new approach to developing a protective therapy against anthrax. They worked with an inhibitor that was able to bind to multiple sites on the host receptor, blocking the anthrax toxin that is secreted by anthrax bacteria from binding to the host. In theory, the new approach would be able to protect people exposed to inhalation anthrax, which can kill 75 percent of the people exposed--even after they've been given antibiotics. The scientists also note that the same approach may be able to work on influenza, AIDS and SARS.
- here's the report on the inhibitor from HealthDay News