Geographical distribution of genotypic and phenotypic markers among Bacillus anthracis isolates and related species by historical movement and horizontal transfer.
The geographical distribution of Bacillus anthracis strains and isolates bearing some of the same genetic markers as the Amerithrax Ames isolate was examined and evaluated. At least one mechanism for the horizontal movement of genetic markers was shown amongst isolates and closely related species and the effect of such mixing was demonstrated on phenotype. The results provided potential mechanisms by which attempts to attribute isolates of Bacillus anthracis to certain geographical and isolate sources may be disrupted.
Kiel
J L
JL
Air Force Research Laboratory, Brooks City-Base, TX 78235-5107, USA. Johnathan.Kiel@brooks.af.mil
Parker
J E
JE
Holwitt
E A
EA
McCreary
R P
RP
Andrews
C J
CJ
De Los Santos
A
A
Wade
M
M
Kalns
J
J
Walker
W
W
D000818:Animals; D000881:Anthrax / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary; D001408:Bacillus anthracis / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D001483:Base Sequence; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000382:microbiology; D022761:Gene Transfer, Horizontal; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D005819:Genetic Markers; D005838:Genotype; D018598:Minisatellite Repeats; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D010641:Phenotype; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D013045:Species Specificity; D013171:Spores, Bacterial
D005819:Genetic Markers