----------------------------------------------------------------------- BIOINFORMATICS COLLOQUIUM School of Computational Sciences George Mason University ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Human and mouse host transcriptional responses during inhalational anthrax: Clues to understanding the disease Chris Bradburne, Ph.D. National Center for Biodefense and Infectious Diseases George Mason University Abstract: Inhalational anthrax remains the most likely threat for both government-sponsered biological warfare, and individual or group-sponsored bioterrorism. Currently, inhalational anthrax is treatable before the disease becomes systemic with a variety of antibiotics. However, there is currently no cure for late-stage disease. Many things about late-stage anthrax are still poorly understood, including the onset of septic shock and even the cause of death. Key to understanding these components of disease is the host response. Our lab has been trying to characterize the host transcriptional response of whole mouse organs, as well as individual monocyte-type cells through functional genomics technologies such as microarrays. Our results corroborate evidence of previously un-heralded virulence factors such as bacterial proteases, host-response mediators, and signalling pathways. These transcriptional responses also point to clues that fill in gaps in our current understanding of the disease.