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 .