title: Bacillus anthracis diagnostic detection and rapid antibiotic susceptibility determination using 'bioluminescent' reporter phage.
abstract: Genetically modified phages have the potential to detect pathogenic bacteria from clinical, environmental, or food-related sources. Herein we assess an engineered 'bioluminescent' reporter phage (Wß::luxAB) as a clinical diagnostic tool for Bacillus anthracis, the etiological agent of anthrax. Wß::luxAB is able to rapidly (within minutes) detect a panel of B. anthracis strains by transducing a bioluminescent phenotype. The reporter phage displays species specificity by its inability, or significantly reduced ability, to detect members of the closely related Bacillus cereus group and other common bacterial pathogens. Using spiked clinical specimens, Wß::luxAB detects B. anthracis within 5 h at clinically relevant concentrations, and provides antibiotic susceptibility information that mirrors the CLSI method, except that data are obtained at least 5-fold faster. Although anthrax is a treatable disease, a positive patient prognosis is dependent on timely diagnosis and appropriate therapy. Wß::luxAB rapidly detects B. anthracis and determines antibiotic efficacy, properties that will help patient outcome.
authors.affiliation: Guild Associates, Inc., Charleston, SC 29407, United States. Electronic address: dschofield@guildassociates.com.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Schofield
authors.forename: Natasha J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Sharp
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vandamm
authors.forename: Ian J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Molineux
authors.forename: Krista A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Spreng
authors.forename: Chythanya
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rajanna
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Westwater
authors.forename: George C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Stewart
mesh_terms: D001408:Bacillus anthracis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001409:Bacillus cereus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000235:genetics; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D006801:Humans; D008163:Luminescent Measurements / Q000379:methods*; D013045:Species Specificity
keywords: Anthrax; Bacillus anthracis; Bioluminescence; Detection; Diagnosis; Reporter phage