Abstract: The invention provides methods for treating, delaying, and preventing pathological conditions caused by pore-forming toxins such as anthrax toxin, ?-hemolysin toxin, and ?-toxin using a class of low molecular weight compounds that block the pore formed by these toxins. Specific compounds useful for treating, preventing, or delaying a disease condition caused by Bacillus anthracis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Clostridium perfringens are identified.

Abstract: The invention provides low molecular weight compounds that block the pore formed by protective antigen and inhibit anthrax toxin action. Structures of the compounds are derivatives of ?-cyclodextrin. Per-substituted alkylamino derivates displayed inhibitory activity, and they were protective against anthrax lethal toxin action at low micromolar concentrations. Also, the addition of one of the alkylamino derivatives to the bilayer lipid membrane with multiple PA channels caused a significant decrease in membrane conductance. Thus, the invention also provides methods for protection against anthrax toxicity.

Abstract: The invention provides low molecular weight compounds that block the pore formed by protective antigen and inhibit anthrax toxin action. Structures of the compounds are derivatives of ?-cyclodextrin. Per-substituted alkylamino derivatives displayed inhibitory activity, and they were protective against anthrax lethal toxin action at low micromolar concentrations. Also, the addition of one of the alkylamino derivatives to the bilayer lipid membrane with multiple PA channels caused a significant decrease in membrane conductance. Thus, the invention also provides methods for protection against anthrax toxicity.

Abstract: This invention provides a new generalized method for screening, identifying, selecting and designing symmetry-based compounds useful for blocking pores or prepores formed by pathogenic agents including bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, and other proteins capable of forming pores on cellular membranes as a step in the pathogenic mechanism of the agent. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions, filtering devices, and treatment methods useful for preventing, delaying, or otherwise altering the pathogenesis of the pore-forming pathogenic agents.

Abstract: The invention provides low molecular weight compounds that block the pore formed by protective antigen and inhibit anthrax toxin action. Structures of the compounds are derivatives of ?-cyclodextrin. Per-substituted alkylamino derivates displayed inhibitory activity, and they were protective against anthrax lethal toxin action at low micromolar concentrations. Also, the addition of one of the alkylamino derivatives to the bilayer lipid membrane with multiple PA channels caused a significant decrease in membrane conductance. Thus, the invention also provides methods for protection against anthrax toxicity.

Abstract: A treatment for the effects of biological threat agents, such as smallpox virus or anthrax, to be administered either post-infection or as prophylaxis for infection, comprises administration of IFN-&agr;, IFN-&ggr;, or the cell wall of the bacteria B. alcalolophilus, E. faecium, S. caseolyticus, or B. stearothermoohilus or a combination of these components. Additionally, the treatment comprises a combination of antibodies, such as antibodies to heat-inactivated anthrax microbes or to the anthrax Protective Antigen, and antibiotics, such as ciprofloxacin. The treatment also comprises the peptidoglycan, lipoteichoic acid, or muramyl peptide fraction of bacterial cell walls, either alone or in combination with the cytokines, antibodies, and antibiotics provided. These treatments for smallpox and anthrax are administered as an inhalation preparation and therefore avoid the toxic effects of the higher doses of these components.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for studying translation initiation and for identifying potential inhibitors of translation initiation by expressing proteins in the presence of misacylated suppressor tRNAs.