Study of Bacillus anthracis PA-EF-LF, PA- EF, and PA-LF Toxin Complexes Neutralization during Phagocytosis using Glycoconjugates

摘要

Bacillus anthracis produces protective antigen (PA), edema factor (EF), and lethal factor (LF) toxins. PA facilitates the entry of EF and LF into host cells. The potential use of carbohydrate-bearing polymers (glycoconjugates, GC) is receiving considerable attention in view of biomedical and pharmaceutical applications. This increasing interest is predominantly due to the low toxic and immunogenic effects glycoconjugates exhibit, and because the latter can be tailored to meet specific physicochemical requirements. Among other cellular targets, glycoconjugates tend to target macrophages with ease. This characteristic is convenient since macrophages play a central role in pathogen destruction and toxin neutralization. Incidentally, macrophages are also responsible of activating other immune cells. In this context, we studied the effects of glycoconjugates contributing to recognition and neutralization of B. anthracis PA-EF-LF, PA-EF, and PA-LF toxin complexes during phagocytosis.