Rapid recovery and identification of anthrax bacteria from the environment.
Bacillus anthracis has been recognized as a highly likely biological warfare or terrorist agent. We have designed culture techniques to rapidly isolate and identify "live" anthrax from suspected environmental release. A special medium (3AT medium) allows for discrimination between closely related bacilli and non-pathogenic strains. Nitrate was found to be a primary factor influencing spore formation in Bacillus anthracis. Nitrate reduction in anthrax is not an adaptation to saprophytic environmental existence, but it is a signal to enhance environmental survival upon the death of the anthrax host, which can be mimicked in culture.
Kiel
J L
JL
Directed Energy Bioeffects Division, Air Force Research Laboratory, Brooks Air Force Base, Texas 78235, USA. johnathan.kiel@brooks.af.mil
Parker
J E
JE
Alls
J L
JL
Kalns
J
J
Holwitt
E A
EA
Stribling
L J
LJ
Morales
P J
PJ
Bruno
J G
JG
D000818:Animals; D000881:Anthrax / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D001408:Bacillus anthracis / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology*; D008018:Life Cycle Stages; D009566:Nitrates / Q000378:metabolism; D013171:Spores, Bacterial
D009566:Nitrates