Issue 2
Journal for Veterinary Medicine, Biotechnology and Biosafety
Volume
2, Issue 2, July 2016, Pages 27–31
ISSN 2411-3174 (print version) ISSN 2411-0388
(online version)
Unearthing Anthrax —
application of genotyping for exploring a cryptic life cycle of Bacillus
anthracis in soil
Braun P., von Buttlar H., Woelfel R., Grass G.
Bundeswehr
Institute of Microbiology, Munich, Germany, e-mail: gregorgrass@bundeswehr.org
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PDF (print version)
Citation for
print version: Braun, P., von Buttlar, H., Woelfel, R., Grass, G. (2016)
‘Unearthing Anthrax — application of
genotyping for exploring a cryptic life cycle of Bacillus anthracis in
soil’, Journal
for Veterinary Medicine, Biotechnology and Biosafety, 2(2),
pp. 27–31.
Download
PDF (online version)
Citation for
online version: Braun, P., von Buttlar, H., Woelfel, R., Grass, G. (2016)
‘Unearthing Anthrax — application of
genotyping for exploring a cryptic life cycle of Bacillus anthracis in
soil’, Journal
for Veterinary Medicine, Biotechnology and Biosafety.
[Online] 2(2), pp. 27–31. Available at: http://jvmbbs.kharkov.ua/archive/2016/volume2/issue2/oJVMBBS_2016022_027-031.pdf
Summary. Bacillus
anthracis, the etiological agent of the zoonotic disease anthrax is a very
monomorphic species. Typically, the epidemiology of anthrax outbreaks is investigated employing progressive hierarchical resolving
assays using nucleic acids (PHRANA). For resolution of relationships of B. anthracis originating from a single animal
this approach is not suited. In order to close this gap PHRANA can be amended with whole genome sequencing data and
subsequent analysis of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs). Doing so, it was possible to
resolve the genetic diversity of isolates from anthrax outbreaks in Sweden,
Italy as well as of drug use-related infections in Europe. The Swedish outbreak
was confined to a short time-period whereas the
Italian anthrax foci were revisited for analysis ten years after the host
animals have died. Data from the study in Italy contrast with the established
view concerning a strict resting stage of B. anthracis in soil. This
review discusses the plausibility that B. anthracis multiplies in a
limited soil-borne life cycle after the spores have diffused to near the
surface where the bacteria encounter favorable conditions in non-animal hosts
or rhizosphere.
Keywords: Bacillus anthracis, anthrax, soil,
genotyping, life cycle
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