Anthrax Toxin

  Anthrax is a household word, in spite of the fact that anthrax is not a common disease. Its not a common disease in humans, it is usually contracted by infected animals or products.But recently, anthrax has gained the possiblity to be a major threat through bioterrorism. It is an effective weapon because it forms sturdy spores that may be stored for years, that rapidly lead to lethal infections when inhaled.
  Anthrax is caused by a large bacterium. Once its spores lodge in the skin or in the lungs, it rapidly begins growth and produces a deadly three-part toxin. One part of the toxin is a delivery mechanism that seeks out cells; another part is a toxic enzyme that rapidly kills the cell. Part of the toxin is a delivery mechanism that seeks out cells; another part is a toxic enzyme that rapidly kills the cell. In anthrax toxin, there is one delivery molecule, termed "protective antigen" because of its use in anthrax vaccines. It delivers the other two parts, edema factor and lethal factor, which are the toxic components that attack cells. The delivery component specifically seeks out cell surfaces and inserts the toxic component where it can do the most damage. The toxic component is far more effective than poisons like cyanide and arsenic. Those poisons attack one-on-one, with a single cyanide molecule poisoning a single protein molecule.
  But toxic enzymes are compact cell-killing machines.