What is the difference between the cutaneous (skin), inhalation and gastrointestinal forms of the infection?
Dietrich: It is simply the route the bacteria take to enter the body. The vast majority of infections are cutaneous. Any of the forms can be deadly, though, and the severe symptoms blood poisoning, plummeting blood pressure, shock, bleeding and fluid in the lungs can occur whenever a systemic infection gets established. How do the anthrax bacteria cause such severe and life-threatening effects on the body? Dietrich: The bacteria target macrophages, cells of the immune system that seek out and engulf foreign substances. The bug produces a toxin that enters the macrophages and disrupts the function of key proteins. This poisoning causes the cells to burst, which releases biological molecules that send the body into shock. What makes anthrax “weapons-grade”? Dietrich: I do not have direct experience in “weaponizing” anthrax. From my reading of secondary sources, part of it is related to isolating spore preparations that are of such small diameter they can float for long distances and effe
