Questionable Efficacy of Therapeutic Antibodies in the Treatment of Anthrax
ABSTRACT Inhalational anthrax caused by Bacillus anthracis, a spore-forming Gram-positive bacterium, is a highly lethal infection. Antibodies targeting the protective antigen (PA) binding component of the toxins have recently been authorized as an adjunct to antibiotics, although no conclusive evide...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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American Society for Microbiology
2019-06-01
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| Series: | mSphere |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/mSphere.00282-19 |
| _version_ | 1818683585741193216 |
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| author | Jean-Nicolas Tournier Clémence Rougeaux Fabrice V. Biot Pierre L. Goossens |
| author_facet | Jean-Nicolas Tournier Clémence Rougeaux Fabrice V. Biot Pierre L. Goossens |
| author_sort | Jean-Nicolas Tournier |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT Inhalational anthrax caused by Bacillus anthracis, a spore-forming Gram-positive bacterium, is a highly lethal infection. Antibodies targeting the protective antigen (PA) binding component of the toxins have recently been authorized as an adjunct to antibiotics, although no conclusive evidence demonstrates that anthrax antitoxin therapy has any significant benefit. We discuss here the rational basis of anti-PA development regarding the pathogenesis of the disease. We argue that inductive reasoning may induce therapeutic bias. We identified anthrax animal model analysis as another bias. Further studies are needed to assess the benefit of anti-PA antibodies in the treatment of inhalational anthrax, while a clearer consensus should be established around what evidence should be proven in an anthrax model. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T10:37:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bbcf90b9c4804021a29a4fed189b8a61 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2379-5042 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T10:37:05Z |
| publishDate | 2019-06-01 |
| publisher | American Society for Microbiology |
| record_format | Article |
| series | mSphere |
| spelling | doaj.art-bbcf90b9c4804021a29a4fed189b8a612022-12-21T21:52:21ZengAmerican Society for MicrobiologymSphere2379-50422019-06-014310.1128/mSphere.00282-19Questionable Efficacy of Therapeutic Antibodies in the Treatment of AnthraxJean-Nicolas Tournier0Clémence Rougeaux1Fabrice V. Biot2Pierre L. Goossens3Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées, Bacteriology, Anti-infectious Biotherapies, and Immunity Unit, Brétigny-sur-Orge, FranceInstitut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées, Bacteriology, Anti-infectious Biotherapies, and Immunity Unit, Brétigny-sur-Orge, FranceInstitut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées, Bacteriology, Anti-infectious Biotherapies, and Immunity Unit, Brétigny-sur-Orge, FranceInstitut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées, Bacteriology, Anti-infectious Biotherapies, and Immunity Unit, Brétigny-sur-Orge, FranceABSTRACT Inhalational anthrax caused by Bacillus anthracis, a spore-forming Gram-positive bacterium, is a highly lethal infection. Antibodies targeting the protective antigen (PA) binding component of the toxins have recently been authorized as an adjunct to antibiotics, although no conclusive evidence demonstrates that anthrax antitoxin therapy has any significant benefit. We discuss here the rational basis of anti-PA development regarding the pathogenesis of the disease. We argue that inductive reasoning may induce therapeutic bias. We identified anthrax animal model analysis as another bias. Further studies are needed to assess the benefit of anti-PA antibodies in the treatment of inhalational anthrax, while a clearer consensus should be established around what evidence should be proven in an anthrax model.https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/mSphere.00282-19anthraxantitoxinsmonoclonal antibodiesprotective antigentoxins |
| spellingShingle | Jean-Nicolas Tournier Clémence Rougeaux Fabrice V. Biot Pierre L. Goossens Questionable Efficacy of Therapeutic Antibodies in the Treatment of Anthrax mSphere anthrax antitoxins monoclonal antibodies protective antigen toxins |
| title | Questionable Efficacy of Therapeutic Antibodies in the Treatment of Anthrax |
| title_full | Questionable Efficacy of Therapeutic Antibodies in the Treatment of Anthrax |
| title_fullStr | Questionable Efficacy of Therapeutic Antibodies in the Treatment of Anthrax |
| title_full_unstemmed | Questionable Efficacy of Therapeutic Antibodies in the Treatment of Anthrax |
| title_short | Questionable Efficacy of Therapeutic Antibodies in the Treatment of Anthrax |
| title_sort | questionable efficacy of therapeutic antibodies in the treatment of anthrax |
| topic | anthrax antitoxins monoclonal antibodies protective antigen toxins |
| url | https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/mSphere.00282-19 |
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