Microbicidal power of alpha radiation in sterilizing germinating Bacillus anthracis spores

Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2014;58(3):1813-5. doi: 10.1128/AAC.01266-13. Epub 2013 Dec 30.

Abstract

Radioimmunotherapy (RIT) takes advantage of the specificity and affinity of the antigen-antibody interaction to deliver microbicidal radioactive nuclides to a site of infection. In this study, we investigated the microbicidal properties of an alpha particle-emitting 213Bi-labeled monoclonal antibody (MAb), EA2-1 (213Bi-EA2-1), that binds to the immunodominant antigen on Bacillus anthracis spores. Our results showed that dormant spores were resistant to 213Bi-EA2-1. Significant spore killing was observed following treatment with EA2-1 labeled with 300 μCi 213Bi; however, this effect was not dependent on the MAb. In contrast, when spores were germinating, 213Bi-EA2-1 mediated MAb-specific killing in a dose-dependent manner. Dormant spores are very resistant to RIT, and RIT should focus on targeting vegetative cells and germinating spores.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alpha Particles / therapeutic use*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Bacillus anthracis / radiation effects*
  • Bismuth
  • Microscopy, Phase-Contrast
  • Radioisotopes
  • Spores, Bacterial / radiation effects*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Radioisotopes
  • Bismuth