Assay for Early Diagnosis of Anthrax Using Monoclonal Antibodies Against Anthrax Toxin

Anthrax is a serious infectious disease caused by bacteria known as Bacillus anthracis. Anthrax-contaminated spores can be found naturally in soil and they commonly affect domestic and wild animals around the world. Although rare in the United States, people can get sick with anthrax if they come in contact with infected animals or contaminated animal products.

CDC researchers have developed a lateral flow immunoassay using monoclonal antibodies against Bacillus anthracis toxin and its components, lethal factor (LF) and protective antigen (PA). These antibodies have been screened and optimized into anti-LF and anti-PA pairs, which allows capture and detection of the anthrax antigens. These antibodies can be used in multiple combinations for rapid, simple, sensitive and specific assays for culture-free anthrax diagnosis. The lateral flow immunoassay can be used as a rapid point-of-care assay for detection of anthrax antigens like LF before onset of symptoms, which may allow prophylactic measures, early intervention and successful disease treatment. In addition to this, these antibodies can be used in enzyme linked immunoassays and hybrid real-time PCR immunodetection assays for anthrax diagnosis, as well as research.