Bacteriophage receptor binding proteins (RBPs) are employed by viruses to recognize specific surface structures on bacterial host cells. Recombinant RBPs have been utilized for detection of several pathogens, typically as fusions with reporter enzymes or fluorescent proteins. Identification of Bacillus anthracis, the etiological agent of anthrax, can be difficult because of the bacterium’s close relationship with other species of the Bacillus cereussensu lato group. Here, we facilitated the identification of B. anthracis using two implementations of enzyme-linked phage receptor binding protein assays (ELPRA). We developed a single-tube centrifugation assay simplifying the rapid analysis of suspect colonies. A second assay enables identification of suspect colonies from mixed overgrown solid (agar) media derived from the complex matrix soil. Thus, these tests identified vegetative cells of B. anthracis with little processing time and may support or confirm pathogen detection by molecular methods such as polymerase chain reaction.

Fischer-344 rats and B6C3F1 mice of both sexes were exposed in closed chambers to 14C-labeled methyl chloride. Different clearance values from the gas phase of the system indicated that, based on body weight, mice metabolized the test compound much faster than rats. After isolation of DNA and nucleoproteins from liver and kidneys radioactivity was found in all macromolecular samples; this was ascribed to metabolic C1-incorporation. Radioactivity incorporation was particularly high in DNA of mouse kidneys, suggesting a high turnover to active C1 bodies (formaldehyde, formate) in this tissue. Analyses of DNA samples from kidneys of female and male mice showed neither 7-N-methylguanine nor O6-methylguanine. Hence, the formation of tumors in B6C3F1 mice exposed to high concentrations of methyl chloride is not based on methylation of DNA in this tissue.