Serologic correlates of protection against <i>Bacillus anthracis </i>infection

摘要

Regions of B. anthracis protective antigen are provided representing sequences recognized by antibodies in subjects that have vaccine induced lethal toxin neutralizing anti-PA IgG responses. The recognition of these PA regions enhances the utility of anti-PA IgG reactivity as an immune correlate of protection against anthrax in a subject and increases predictive probability of survival. Also provided are vaccines that include at least one of these PA regions that when administered to a subject improve the predictive value of vaccine induced anti-PA IgG and TNA responses as immune correlates of protection against inhalation anthrax.

主权项

1. A process of determining if a subject has acquired immunity against B. anthracis infection in a subject comprising:
obtaining a biological sample from a subject; screening said biological sample for the presence or absence of antibodies to one or more predefined regions of Bacillus anthracis protective antigen, at least one of said predefined regions consisting of residues 681-710 of SEQ ID NO: 1; and determining subject as having acquired immunity against B. anthracis by the presence of antibodies to one or more of said predefined regions, or determining said subject as lacking acquired immunity against B. anthracis from said screening by the absence of antibodies to one or more of said predefined regions.