Isolation of Protective Antigen from Anthrax Toxin by Preparative Isotachophoresis

Abstract : This paper presents the first use of preparative isotachophoresis to isolate PA from the crude whole toxin. The distinct roles of PA and LF were first demonstrated by Beall et al. and subsequently their usefulness as potential immunogens was confirmed by Mahlandt et al. In addition to having shown the serologic specificity of PA and LF derived by preparative isotachophoresis, we subsequently demonstrated that homologous antibodies to PA and LF when added individually to identical aliquots of whole crude-toxin blocked lethality following intravenous injection into susceptible Fischer 344 rats. The potential use of preparative isotachophoresis in improving vaccine production is still being evaluated, as is the biological integrity of the individually recognizable components.