Detection technologies for Bacillus anthracis: prospects and challenges.
Bacillus anthracis is a Gram-positive, spore-forming bacterium representing the etiological agent of acute infectious disease anthrax, a lethal but rare disease of animals and humans in nature. With recent use of anthrax as a bioweapon, a number of techniques have been recently developed and evaluated to facilitate its rapid detection of B. anthracis in the environment as well as in point-of-care settings for humans suspected of exposure to the pathogen. Complex laboratory methods for B. anthracis identification are required since B. anthracis has similarities with other Bacillus species and its existence in both spore and vegetative forms. This review discusses current challenges and various improvements associated with anthrax agent detection.
Rao
Shilpakala Sainath
SS
Section of Cell Biology, Laboratory of Cellular Hematology, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, FDA, Bethesda, MD 20892, United States.
Mohan
Ketha V K
KV
Atreya
Chintamani D
CD
D000818:Animals; D000881:Anthrax / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D001408:Bacillus anthracis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans