Name the three virulence factors of B. anthracis and describe their mechanism of action:
1. Capsule is antiphagocytic.
2. Edema factor exotoxin is acalmodulin-dependent adenylate cyclase that increases cyclic adenosine monophos-phate (cAMP) causing severe edema. 3. Lethal factor exotoxin is a protease, causing cells to increase tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production leading to cell death.