ENCYCLOPEDIA OF Espionage, Intelligence, and Security Volume ...

Anthrax VaccineA technician works in a clean room filling anthrax vaccine vials at a Spokane, Washington, laboratory in 2002. AP/WIDE WORLD PHOTOS.growth media that was free of protein (that could alsostimulate an immune reaction), and the use of aluminumhydroxide instead of alum had produced a superior vaccine.The improved product, anthrax vaccine adsorbed(AVA), was approved for use in the United States in 1965.AVA remains the only licensed vaccine in the UnitedStates as of early 2003.host cell proteins is lethal to the host cell, hence thefactor’s name.Edema factor is a toxin. The destruction of the hostcells allows this toxin to enter the bloodstream, where itcan kill cells of the immune system. Disabling the host’simmune response allows the bacteria and the toxin tospread throughout the body.Protective antigen, lethal factor, and edema factor. Theprotective antigen is a protein that can insert into themembrane of a host cell to create a hole, or pore, throughthe membrane. The pore then functions as a portal toallow the other two components to get inside of thehost cell.The lethal factor is a type of enzyme classified as azinc protease. The enzyme attacks and breaks host proteinsinto smaller and nonfunctional pieces. DestroyingSide effects of the anthrax vaccine. Like some othervaccines, AVA can cause side effects, which can, in rareinstances, be life threatening or fatal. Data regarding adverseevents are available from the Vaccine Event ReportingSystem (a U.S. vaccine safety surveillance programthat is under the direction of the Food and Drug Administrationand the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).From January 1, 1990 through August 31, 2000,1,859,000 doses of anthrax vaccine were administered in38 Encyclopedia of Espionage, Intelligence, and Security