Detection of anthrax spores from the air by real-time PCR.
OBJECTIVE
To detect and isolate Bacillus anthracis from the air by a simple and rapid procedure.


RESULTS
One hundred litres of air were filtered through an air monitor device. After the membrane was suspended in PBS, spores of B. anthracis were added. The suspension was plated on Bacillus cereus selective agar (BCA) plates to detect B. anthracis colonies. The suspension was also heated at 95 degrees C for 15 min and used for real-time PCR using a Light Cycler system and anthrax-specific primers.


CONCLUSIONS
A single cell of B. anthracis was detected by real-time PCR within 1 h and was also isolated on a BCA plate within two d.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results provide evidence that anthrax spores from the atmosphere can be detected rapidly, suggesting that real-time PCR and a Light Cycler provides a flexible and powerful tool to prevent epidemics.
Makino
S I
SI
Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan. smakino@obhihiro.ac.jp
Cheun
H I
HI
Watarai
M
M
Uchida
I
I
Takeshi
K
K
D000391:Air Microbiology; D001408:Bacillus anthracis / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D003470:Culture Media; D006358:Hot Temperature; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000302:isolation & purification*
D003470:Culture Media