Compositions and methods for detection, prevention, and treatment of anthrax and other infectious diseases

A method for detecting infection by a PGA-producing bacterium in a subject comprising:

• contacting a biological sample prepared from a subject with an anti-PGA antibody, wherein the subject is a member of a vertebrate species;
• measuring a level of soluble PGA in said biological sample;
• and
• comparing the level of soluble PGA to a reference value of soluble PGA representative of vertebrate species members uninfected by the PGA-producing bacterium;
• wherein the level of soluble PGA indicates that the subject has been infected by a PGA-producing bacterium if the level of soluble PGA exceeds the reference value.

A method for evaluating progression of infection by a PGA-producing bacterium in a vertebrate of interest, said method comprising:

• contacting a biological sample prepared from said vertebrate with an anti-PGA antibody;
• measuring a level of soluble PGA in said biological sample;
• and
• comparing the level of soluble PGA with a reference value, wherein the reference value comprises a level of soluble PGA in a biological sample obtained from said vertebrate at another time;
• wherein comparing the level of soluble PGA in said biological sample to the reference value is indicative of the progression of said infection.