Sequencing of 16S rRNA gene: a rapid tool for identification of Bacillus anthracis

In a bioterrorism event, a tool is needed to rapidly differentiate Bacillus anthracis from other closely related spore-forming Bacillus species. During the recent outbreak of bioterrorism-associated anthrax, we sequenced the 16S rRNA generom these species to evaluate the potential of 16S rRNA gene s...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Emerging infectious diseases 2002-10, Vol.8 (10), p.1117-1123
Main Authors: Sacchi, Claudio T, Whitney, Anne M, Mayer, Leonard W, Morey, Roger, Steigerwalt, Arnold, Boras, Arijana, Weyant, Robin S, Popovic, Tanja
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
16S rRNA gene
Analysis
Anthrax
Anthrax - diagnosis
Anthrax - microbiology
Bacillus anthracis
Bacillus anthracis - genetics
Bacillus anthracis - isolation & purification
Bacillus cereus - genetics
Bacillus cereus - isolation & purification
Bacillus thuringiensis - genetics
Bacillus thuringiensis - isolation & purification
Bioterrorism
Dispatch
Genes, Bacterial - genetics
Genetic aspects
Genetic research
Genetic Variation - genetics
Humans
Molecular Sequence Data
Polymerase Chain Reaction
RNA, Bacterial - genetics
RNA, Ribosomal, 16S - genetics
Sequence Analysis, DNA - methods
United States
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Summary:In a bioterrorism event, a tool is needed to rapidly differentiate Bacillus anthracis from other closely related spore-forming Bacillus species. During the recent outbreak of bioterrorism-associated anthrax, we sequenced the 16S rRNA generom these species to evaluate the potential of 16S rRNA gene sequencing as a diagnostic tool. We found eight distinct 16S types among all 107 16S rRNA gene seqs fuences that differed from each other at 1 to 8 positions (0.06% to 0.5%). All 86 B. anthracis had an identical 16S gene sequence, designated type 6; 16S type 10 was seen in all B. thuringiensis strains; six other 16S types were found among the 10 B. cereus strains. This report describes the first demonstration of an exclusive association of a distinct 16S sequence with B. anthracis. Consequently, we were able to rapidly identify suspected isolates and to detect the B. anthracis 16S rRNA gene directly from culture-negative clinical specimens from seven patients with laboratory-confirmed anthrax.
ISSN:1080-6040
1080-6059
DOI:10.3201/eid0810.020391