Molecular approaches to identify and differentiate Bacillus anthracis from phenotypically similar Bacillus species isolates

BMC Microbiology
Chung K MarstonAlex R Hoffmaster

Abstract

Bacillus anthracis and Bacillus cereus can usually be distinguished by standard microbiological methods (e.g., motility, hemolysis, penicillin susceptibility and susceptibility to gamma phage) and PCR. However, we have identified 23 Bacillus spp. isolates that gave discrepant results when assayed by standard microbiological methods and PCR. We used multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA), multiple-locus sequence typing (MLST), and phenotypic analysis to characterize these isolates, determine if they cluster phylogenetically and establish whether standard microbiological identification or PCR were associated with false positive/negative results. Six isolates were LRN real-time PCR-positive but resistant to gamma phage; MLVA data supported the identification of these isolates as gamma phage-resistant B. anthracis. Seventeen isolates were LRN real-time PCR-negative but susceptible to gamma phage lysis; these isolates appear to be a group of unusual gamma phage-susceptible B. cereus isolates that are closely related to each other and to B. anthracis. All six B. anthracis MLVA chromosomal loci were amplified from one unusual gamma phage-susceptible, motile, B. cereus isolate (although the amplicons were atypical...Continue Reading

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Citations

Jan 21, 2012·Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology·Léonid M Irenge, Jean-Luc Gala
Jul 1, 2008·Applied and Environmental Microbiology·William C SchumacherAndrew J Phipps
Jun 1, 2007·Canadian Journal of Microbiology·Ameur CherifAbdellatif Boudabous
Jun 12, 2009·Annual Review of Microbiology·Anne-Brit KolstøOle Andreas Økstad
Nov 8, 2008·BMC Microbiology·Alex R HoffmasterPatricia P Wilkins
Apr 12, 2011·BMC Research Notes·Andrzej K Brodzik, Joe Francoeur
May 7, 2016·ACS Infectious Diseases·Katie J MolohonDouglas A Mitchell
Dec 4, 2008·FEMS Immunology and Medical Microbiology·Chris R TaittJoel M Schnur
Nov 18, 2017·BMC Research Notes·Cari B KoltonAlex R Hoffmaster
Jun 4, 2016·PloS One·Chung K MarstonAlex R Hoffmaster
Jan 13, 2010·Nature Reviews. Microbiology·Arturo Casadevall, David A Relman
May 4, 2021·Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition·Laura M CarrollJasna Kovac
Aug 6, 2009·Molecular Aspects of Medicine·Theresa M Koehler

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Methods Mentioned

BETA
PCR

Software Mentioned

GCG Wisconsin package
MLVA
MLST
MEGA

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