title: Genetic populations of Bacillus anthracis isolates from Korea.
abstract: Bacillus (B.) anthracis is the pathogen that causes fatal anthrax. Strain-specific detection of this bacterium using molecular approaches has enhanced our knowledge of microbial population genetics. In the present study, we employed molecular approaches including multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) and canonical single-nucleotide polymorphism (canSNP) analysis to perform molecular typing of B. anthracis strains isolated in Korea. According to the MLVA, 17 B. anthracis isolates were classified into A3a, A3b, and B1 clusters. The canSNP analyses subdivided the B. anthracis isolates into two of the three previously recognized major lineages (A and B). B. anthracis isolates from Korea were found to belong to four canSNP sub-groups (B.Br.001/2, A.Br.005/006, A.Br.001/002, and A.Br.Ames). The A.Br.001/002 and A.Br.Ames sub-lineages are closely related genotypes frequently found in central Asia and most isolates were. On the other hand, B. anthracis CH isolates were analyzed that belonged to the B.Br.001/002 sub-group which found in southern Africa, Europe and California (USA). B.Br.001/002 genotype is new lineage of B. anthracis in Korea that was not found before. This discovery will be helpful for the creation of marker systems and might be the result of human activity through the development of agriculture and increased international trade in Korea.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Natural Science and Technology, Hanyang University, Ansan 426-791, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyoung Hwa
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Sang Hoon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Se Kye
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Soo Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Jin Choul
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Chai
authors.forename: Young Seek
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ji Cheon
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seoung Joo
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hee-Bok
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Young Gyu
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Chai
mesh_terms: D001408:Bacillus anthracis / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D005819:Genetic Markers / Q000235:genetics; D005828:Genetics, Population; D005838:Genotype; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D020080:Tandem Repeat Sequences / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers