Receptor for B. anthracis toxin

Abstract

The present invention relates to mammalian anthrax toxin receptor polypeptides and polynucleotides encoding same as well as related polypeptides and polynucleotides, vectors containing the polynucleotides and polypeptides, host cells containing related polynucleotide molecules, and cells displaying no anthrax toxin receptor on an exterior surface of the cells-minus cell lines and animals. The present invention also relates to methods for identifying molecules that bind the anthrax toxin receptor and molecules that reduce the toxicity of anthrax toxin. Finally, the present invention provides methods for treating human and non-human animals suffering from anthrax.

1 . An isolated polypeptide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID No:2, a PA-binding fragment of SEQ ID NO:2, a PA-binding fragment of SEQ ID NO:6, a PA-binding fragment of SEQ ID NO: 8, a PA-binding fragment of SEQ ID NO:10, a PA-binding polypeptide at least 80% identical to any of the foregoing fragments, and a fusion protein comprising any of the foregoing.  
     
     
         2 . The isolated polypeptide of  claim 1  wherein the polypeptide is a soluble polypeptide.  
     
     
         3 . The isolated polypeptide of  claim 1 , wherein the PA-binding fragment of SEQ ID NO:2 begins at any amino acid in the range from 27 to 43 and ends at any amino acid in the range from 221 to 321.  
     
     
         4 . The isolated polypeptide of  claim 1  having an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:2.  
     
     
         5 .- 21 . (canceled)