Abstract: The invention provides methods and materials for identifying agents for preventing and/or treating anthrax and similar diseases. Embodiments provide strains and model systems for studying non-lethal and lethal exposure to anthrax and similar disease vectors. Embodiments provide materials and methods for using the strains and model systems for differential profiling, such as proteomic profiling, such as differentiation phosphorylation profiling, to target identification and therapeutics discovery and development. Embodiments provide pharmaceutically acceptable compositions, and methods for using them to prevent and/or treat anthrax and similar diseases comprising an agent that decreases the activity of caspase ¼, such as YVAD, and/or an agent that increases the phosphorylation of AKT, such as IB-MECA or Cl-IB-MECA, together with, in particular embodiments, an antibiotic, such as ciprofloxacin. Kits comprising the same are provided as well, among other things.