Link to Pubmed [PMID] – 26977051
J. Infect. Dis. 2016 Mar;
The lung is the terminal target of B. anthracis before death, whatever the route of infection (cutaneous, inhalational, digestive). During a cutaneous infection in absence of toxins, we show (i) encapsulated bacteria colonizing the alveolar capillary network, (ii) bacteria and hemorrhages in alveolar and bronchiolar spaces, and (iii) hypoxic foci in the lung (endothelial cells) and brain (neurons and neuropil). Circulating encapsulated bacteria were as chains of circa 13 µm in length. Bacteria of such size were immediately trapped within the lung capillary network, but not bacteria of shorter length. Controlling lung targeted pathology would be beneficial for anthrax treatment.