Abstract: Recombinant immunogenic compositions and methods for protecting against lethal infections from Bacillus anthracis having a variant of recombinant Bacillus anthracis protective antigen (rPA) and a variant of recombinant Bacillus anthracis lethal factor (rLF). These proteins may be expressed separately or as a fusion protein. The recombinant proteins are produced in an avirulent strain of Bacillus anthracis that overproduces the desired antigens. The compositions and methods induce the animal host to produce antibodies against a virulent strain of Bacillus anthracis.