The Genome of a Bacillus Isolate Causing Anthrax in Chimpanzees Combines Chromosomal Properties of B. cereus with B. anthracis Virulence Plasmids

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0010986
• Publication Date: 2010-07-12T10:39:21Z
• Authors: Silke R. Klee; Elzbieta B. Brzus...; Herbert Nattermann; Holger Brüggemann; Susann Dupke; Antje Wollherr; Tatjana Franz; Georg Pauli; Bernd Appel; Wolfgang Liebl; Emmanuel Couacy-H...; Christophe Boesch; Frauke-Dorothee M...; Fabian H. Leendertz; Heinz Ellerbrok; Gerhard Gottschalk; Roland Grunow; Heiko Liesegang
• Keywords: Bacillus anthracis; Cereus; Prophage

Anthrax is a fatal disease caused by strains of Bacillus anthracis. Members this monophyletic species are non motile and all characterized the presence four prophages nonsense mutation in plcR regulator gene. Here we report complete genome sequence strain isolated from chimpanzee that had died with clinical symptoms anthrax. Unlike classic B. anthracis, was lacked prohages mutation. Four replicons were identified, chromosome three plasmids. Comparative analysis revealed resembles those non-B. anthracis members cereus group, whereas two plasmids identical to anthrax virulence pXO1 pXO2. The function newly discovered third plasmid length 14 kbp unknown. A detailed comparison genomic loci encoding key features confirmed higher similarity thuringiensis serovar konkukian 97-27 E33L than strains. For first time describe an causing bacterium possessing both apparently does not belong group so far known differs important diagnostic features. data suggest has evolved independently established lifestyle. Therefore designate isolate as “B. variety (var.) anthracis”.