Anthrax PA Antibody

Anthrax PA Polyclonal Antibody is a crucial tool in the study of Bacillus anthracis, the bacterium responsible for anthrax. This antibody specifically targets the Protective Antigen (PA) component of the anthrax toxin, which plays a vital role in the pathogenesis of the disease.

Bacillus anthracis produces three main polypeptides that constitute the anthrax toxin:

1. Protective Antigen (PA): This is the primary target of the Anthrax PA Polyclonal Antibody.
2. Lethal Factor (LF): Works in conjunction with PA to enter cells and disrupt cellular functions.
3. Edema Factor (EF): Also works with PA to cause fluid accumulation and swelling.

The Protective Antigen is an 83 kDa protein that is cleaved by a furin-like protease into two fragments: a 63 kDa fragment and a 20 kDa fragment. The 63 kDa fragment (PA63) forms a heptamer that binds to LF and EF, facilitating their entry into host cells through receptor-mediated endocytosis .

Polyclonal antibodies are produced by immunizing animals (such as rabbits) with an antigen, in this case, synthetic peptides corresponding to amino acids 186-192 of the Anthrax PA protein. The immune system of the animal generates a diverse array of antibodies that recognize multiple epitopes on the antigen. This diversity makes polyclonal antibodies highly effective in detecting their target proteins in various applications, including Western blotting and immunohistochemistry .

Anthrax PA Polyclonal Antibody is widely used in research to:

• Detect the presence of PA in samples.
• Study the mechanism of anthrax toxin entry into cells.
• Develop potential therapeutic interventions against anthrax.

The antibody is typically supplied in a liquid form and should be stored at -20°C to maintain its stability. It is important to avoid freeze-thaw cycles to prevent degradation of the antibody .