title: Rapid and effective detection of anthrax spores in soil by PCR.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To detect Bacillus anthracis DNA from soil using rapid and simple procedures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Various amounts of B. anthracis Pasteur II spores were added artificially to 1 g of soil, which was then washed with ethanol and sterile water. Enrichment of the samples in trypticase soy broth was performed twice. A DNA template was prepared from the second enrichment culture using a FastPrep instrument. The template was then used for nested and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with B. anthracis-specific primers, to confirm the presence of B. anthracis chromosomal DNA and the pXO1/pXO2 plasmids.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  One cell of B. anthracis in 1 g of soil could be detected by nested and real-time PCR. The usefulness of the PCR method using field samples was also confirmed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicate that this could be a useful method for detecting anthrax-spore contaminated soil with high sensitivity. Its application could have great impact on the progress of epidemiological surveillance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Veterinary Science, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan.
authors.forename: H I
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Cheun
authors.forename: S-I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Makino
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Watarai
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Erdenebaatar
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kawamoto
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Uchida
mesh_terms: D001408:Bacillus anthracis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D001483:Base Sequence; D003470:Culture Media; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D004269:DNA, Bacterial