The Ba813 chromosomal DNA sequence effectively traces the whole Bacillus anthracis community

Abstract

V . R AM I SS E, G . P AT R A, J. V AI SS A IR E A N D M . M O CK . 1999. Plasmid genes that are responsible for virulence of Bacillus anthracis are important targets for the DNA-based detection of anthrax. We evaluated the distribution of the Ba813 chromosomal DNA sequence (Ba813) within closely related Bacillus species. Ba813 was systematically identified from 47 strains or isolates of B. anthracis tested, thus indicating its reliability as a tracer for that species. From the 60 strains of closely related Bacillus spp. examined, three bona fide B. cereus and one bona fide B. thuringiensis were found to harbour Ba813. This marker was also detected in Bacillus sp. isolates that were present at high levels in soil samples collected in a place where an anthrax outbreak had occurred. The significance and the possible function of the Ba813 locus is discussed.

Genetic distribution of 295 Bacillus cereus group members based on adk-screening in combination with MLST (Multilocus Sequence Typing) used for validating a primer targeting a chromosomal locus in B. anthracis

“…These results showed that the primer set BA813-f/r was not specific for B. anthracis, which is consistent with previously published results where four out of 60 non-B. anthracis strains were amplified (Ramisse et al, 1999).…”

In silico and in vitro evaluation of PCR-based assays for the detection ofBacillus anthracischromosomal signature sequences

“…30 These genetic markers provide limited specificity and require additional timeconsuming and labor-intensive post-PCR analysis steps. Other areas of the chromosome have also been investigated as potential DNA-targets for identification purposes, including the so-called BA813 [31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38] and BA5510 sequences, 19 genes bclB, 39 sap, 40,41 saspB, 5,42 and sspE, 22,43 the B-type small acid-soluble spore protein gene (SASP), 44 a glycosyltransferase group 1 family protein, 45 a protein showing similarities with an abhydrolase, 18 and several DNA loci located on prophage regions, 17 i.e., BA5345, 21 BA5357, 46 and PL3. 47 Although most of these regions have been claimed to be anthrax-specific, B. cereus strains sometimes yield false positive results.…”

“…Assays mentioned by the World Health Organization (WHO) 31,40,44 were also included in the ring trial, as well as a hydrolysis probe assay 35 that targets the often used BA813 marker [31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38] (Table 3). The latter marker has shown in silico cross-reactions toward the near-neighbor strains in use in this trial and was included for this reason.…”

PCR-Based Detection of Bacillus anthracis in Formalin-Fixed Tissue from a Patient Receiving Ciprofloxacin

“…1A). A positive PCR result with the B. anthracis rpoB primers is not equivalent to B. anthracis identification (12,14,16). However, rpoB still retains value as a chromosomal marker since B. anthracis can lose both its virulence plasmids (1,11), although it is more likely to spontaneously lose pX02 (12).…”