Bacillus anthracis secretome time course under host-simulated conditions and identification of immunogenic proteins

Background  

The secretion time course of Bacillus anthracis strain RA3R (pXO1⁺/pXO2^-) during early, mid, and late log phase were investigated under conditions that simulate those encountered in the host. All of the identified proteins were analyzed by different software algorithms to characterize their predicted mode of secretion and cellular localization. In addition, immunogenic proteins were identified using sera from humans with cutaneous anthrax.     

A simple and sensitive method for detection of Bacillus anthracis by loop‐mediated isothermal amplification

Aims: To develop a rapid and simple system for detection of Bacillus anthracis using a loop‐mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method and determine the suitability of LAMP for rapid identification of B. anthracis infection. Methods and Results: A specific LAMP assay targeting unique gene sequences in the bacterial chromosome and two virulence plasmids, pXO1 and pXO2, was designed. With this assay, it was possible to detect more than 10 fg of bacterial DNA per reaction and obtain results within 30–40 min under isothermal conditions at 63°C. No cross‐reactivity was observed among Bacillus cereus group and other Bacillus species. Furthermore, in tests using blood specimens from mice inoculated intranasally with B. anthracis spores, the sensitivity of the LAMP assay following DNA extraction methods using a Qiagen DNeasy kit or boiling protocol was examined. Samples prepared by both methods showed almost equivalent sensitivities in LAMP assay. The detection limit was 3·6 CFU per test. Conclusions: The LAMP assay is a simple, rapid and sensitive method for detecting B. anthracis. Significance and Impact of the Study: The LAMP assay combined with boiling extraction could be used as a simple diagnostic method for identification of B. anthracis infection.     

Identification of Three Noncontiguous Regions on Bacillus anthracis Plasmid pXO1 That Are Important for Its Maintenance

Bacillus anthracis pXO1 minireplicon (MR) plasmid consisting of open reading frames (ORFs) GBAA_pXO1_0020 to GBAA_pXO1_0023 is not stably maintained in B. anthracis, whereas the full-size parent pXO1 plasmid (having 181,677 bp and 217 ORFs) is extremely stable under the same growth conditions. Two genetic tools developed for DNA manipulation in B. anthracis (Cre-loxP and Flp-FRT systems) were used to identify pXO1 regions important for plasmid stability. We localized a large segment of pXO1 that enables stable plasmid maintenance during vegetative growth. Further genetic analysis identified three genes that are necessary for pXO1 maintenance: amsP (GBAA_pXO1_0069), minP (GBAA_pXO1_0082), and sojP (GBAA_pXO1_0084). Analysis of conserved domains in the corresponding proteins indicated that only AmsP (activator of maintenance system of pXO1) is predicted to bind DNA, due to its strong helix-turn-helix domain. Two conserved domains were found in the MinP protein (Min protein from pXO1): an N-terminal domain having some similarity to the B. anthracis septum site-determining protein MinD and a C-terminal domain that resembles a baculovirus single-stranded-DNA-binding protein. The SojP protein (Soj from pXO1) contains putative Walker box motifs and belongs to the ParA family of ATPases. No sequences encoding other components of type I plasmid partition systems, namely, cis-acting centromere parS and its binding ParB protein, were identified within the pXO1 genome. A model describing the role of the MinP protein in pXO1 distribution between daughter cells is proposed.     

The Bacillus anthracis chromosome contains four conserved, excision-proficient, putative prophages

Background  

Bacillus anthracis is considered to be a recently emerged clone within the Bacillus cereus sensu lato group. The B. anthracis genome sequence contains four putative lambdoid prophages. We undertook this study in order to understand whether the four prophages are unique to B. anthracis and whether they produce active phages.     

Three microarray platforms: an analysis of their concordance in profiling gene expression

Background

Bacillus cereus, Bacillus anthracis and Bacillus thuringiensis belong to the genetically close-knit Bacillus cereus sensu lato group, a family of rod-shaped Gram-positive bacteria. pAW63 is the first conjugative plasmid from the B. cereus group to be completely sequenced.

Results

The 71,777 bp nucleotide sequence of pAW63 reveals a modular structure, including a 42 kb tra region encoding homologs of the Type IV secretion systems components VirB11, VirB4 and VirD4, as well as homologs of Gram-positive conjugation genes from Enterococcus, Lactococcus, Listeria, Streptococcus and Staphylococcus species. It also firmly establishes the existence of a common backbone between pAW63, pXO2 from Bacillus anthracis and pBT9727 from the pathogenic Bacillus thuringiensis serovar konkukian strain 97-27. The alignment of these three plasmids highlights the presence of well conserved segments, in contrast to distinct regions of high sequence plastiCity. The study of their specific differences has provided a three-point reference framework that can be exploited to formulate solid hypotheses concerning the functionalities and the molecular evolution of these three closely related plasmids. This has provided insight into the chronology of their divergence, and led to the discovery of two Type II introns on pAW63, matching copies of the mobile element IS231L in different loci of pXO2 and pBT9727, and the identification on pXO2 of a 37 kb pathogeniCity island (PAI) containing the anthrax capsule genes.

Conclusion

The complete sequence determination of pAW63 has led to a functional map of the plasmid yielding insights into its conjugative apparatus, which includes T4SS-like components, as well as its resemblance to other large plasmids of Gram-positive bacteria. Of particular interest is the extensive homology shared between pAW63 and pXO2, the second virulence plasmid of B. anthracis, as well as pBT9727 from the pathogenic strain B. thuringiensis serovar konkukian strain 97-27.     

不同品系小鼠对炭疽芽胞杆菌弱毒株芽胞的敏感性研究

通过比较四种品系小鼠对炭疽芽胞杆菌（Bacillus anthracis）（简称炭疽杆菌）弱毒株芽胞的敏感性，确定炭疽杆菌弱毒株芽胞攻毒合适的动物模型。采用炭疽杆菌弱毒株A16Q1（pXO1-、pXO2+）和A16PI2（pXO1+、pXO2-）的芽胞对四种品系小鼠（DBA/2、KM、ICR和BALB/c）进行腹腔攻毒，记录小鼠死亡时间，计算LD₅₀、绘制存活曲线并统计分析。运用较敏感的KM小鼠研究不同canSNP基因型毒素缺陷株（含pXO2拷贝数不同）芽胞的毒力差异。利用更为敏感的DBA/2小鼠评价S-层蛋白BA3338对荚膜缺陷株芽胞毒力的影响。结果表明，在四种品系小鼠中，毒素缺陷株芽胞的毒力均高于荚膜缺陷株芽胞的毒力。DBA/2小鼠对炭疽杆菌弱毒株芽胞的剂量依赖关系最好，最为敏感，其次是KM小鼠，而ICR小鼠和BALB/c小鼠对炭疽杆菌弱毒株芽胞不敏感。确定了DBA/2小鼠和KM小鼠在炭疽杆菌弱毒株芽胞研究中的适用性。使用KM小鼠评价了不同canSNP基因型炭疽杆菌芽胞的毒力差异，结果表明，不同canSNP基因型炭疽杆菌由于所含pXO2质粒拷贝数的差异导致芽胞的毒力不同。使用DBA/2小鼠评价了S-层蛋白BA3338缺失对炭疽杆菌芽胞毒力的影响，表明BA3338基因的缺失导致炭疽杆菌芽胞毒力降低。     

Development and validation of a real-time quantitative PCR assay for rapid identification of Bacillus anthracis in environmental samples

A real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was developed for rapid identification of Bacillus anthracis in environmental samples. These samples often harbor Bacillus cereus bacteria closely related to B. anthracis, which may hinder its specific identification by resulting in false positive signals. The assay consists of two duplex real-time PCR: the first PCR allows amplification of a sequence specific of the B. cereus group (B. anthracis, B. cereus, Bacillus thuringiensis, Bacillus weihenstephanensis, Bacillus pseudomycoides, and Bacillus mycoides) within the phosphoenolpyruvate/sugar phosphotransferase system I gene and a B. anthracis specific single nucleotide polymorphism within the adenylosuccinate synthetase gene. The second real-time PCR assay targets the lethal factor gene from virulence plasmid pXO1 and the capsule synthesis gene from virulence plasmid pXO2. Specificity of the assay is enhanced by the use of minor groove binding probes and/or locked nucleic acids probes. The assay was validated on 304 bacterial strains including 37 B. anthracis, 67 B. cereus group, 54 strains of non-cereus group Bacillus, and 146 Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria strains. The assay was performed on various environmental samples spiked with B. anthracis or B. cereus spores. The assay allowed an accurate identification of B. anthracis in environmental samples. This study provides a rapid and reliable method for improving rapid identification of B. anthracis in field operational conditions.     

Complete sequence of three plasmids from Bacillus thuringiensis INTA-FR7-4 environmental isolate and comparison with related plasmids from the Bacillus cereus group

Bacillus thuringiensis is an insect pathogen used worldwide as a bioinsecticide. It belongs to the Bacillus cereus sensu lato group as well as Bacillus anthracis and B. cereus. Plasmids from this group of organisms have been implicated in pathogenicity as they carry the genes responsible for different types of diseases that affect mammals and insects. Some plasmids, like pAW63 and pBT9727, encode a functional conjugation machinery allowing them to be transferred to a recipient cell. They also share extensive homology with the non-functional conjugation apparatus of pXO2 from B. anthracis. In this study we report the complete sequence of three plasmids from an environmental B. thuringiensis isolate from Argentina, obtained by a shotgun sequencing method. We obtained the complete nucleotide sequence of plasmids pFR12 (12 095 bp), pFR12.5 (12 459 bp) and pFR55 (55 712 bp) from B. thuringiensis INTA-FR7-4. pFR12 and pFR12.5 were classified as cryptic as they do not code for any obvious functions besides replication and mobilization. Both small plasmids were classified as RCR plasmids due to similarities with the replicases they encode. Plasmid pFR55 showed a structural organization similar to that observed for plasmids pAW63, pBT9727 and pXO2. pFR55 also shares a tra region with these plasmids, containing genes related to T4SS and conjugation. A comparison between pFR55 and conjugative plasmids led to the postulation that pFR55 is a conjugative plasmid. Genes related to replication functions in pFR55 are different to those described for plasmids with known complete sequences. pFR55 is the first completely sequenced plasmid with a replication machinery related to that of ori44. The analysis of the complete sequence of plasmids from an environmental isolate of B. thuringiensis permitted the identification of a near complete conjugation apparatus in pFR55, resembling those of plasmids pAW63, pBT9727 and pXO2. The availability of this sequence is a step forward in the study of the molecular basis of the conjugative process in Gram positive bacteria, particularly due to the similarity with known conjugation systems. It is also a contribution to the expansion of the non-pathogenic B. cereus plasmid gene pool.     

Identification of Bacillus anthracis specific chromosomal sequences by suppressive subtractive hybridization

Background  

Bacillus anthracis, Bacillus thuringiensis and Bacillus cereus are closely related members of the B. cereus-group of bacilli. Suppressive subtractive hybridization (SSH) was used to identify specific chromosomal sequences unique to B. anthracis.     

The Bacillus anthracis cholesterol-dependent cytolysin, Anthrolysin O, kills human neutrophils, monocytes and macrophages

Background  

Bacillus anthracis is an animal and human pathogen whose virulence is characterized by lethal and edema toxin, as well as a poly-glutamic acid capsule. In addition to these well characterized toxins, B. anthracis secretes several proteases and phospholipases, and a newly described toxin of the cholesterol-dependent cytolysin (CDC) family, Anthrolysin O (ALO).     

Virulence plasmid stability in environmentally occurring <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus anthracis</Emphasis> from North East Turkey

The Bacillus anthracis virulence plasmid pXO2, which encodes for a polypeptide capsule, can be lost during long term laboratory storage. To determine if pXO2 is lost in nature we screened B. anthracis isolates obtained from B. anthracis spores from contaminated animal burial sites in Turkey for their ability to express a capsule upon primary culture. A total of 672 B. anthracis colonies were examined of which ten produced a mixed mucoid (capsule +ve)/non-mucoid (capsule ?ve) phenotype and a further one colony yielded non-mucoid colonies upon repeated culture. Screening by PCR using pXO2 specific primers revealed that seven of these isolates had eliminated the plasmid. Of the four colonies which were positive by PCR, one regained the ability to express a capsule upon repeated culture suggesting that the defect was reversible. This is an important observation as capsule expression is a principal marker of virulence and in the absence of PCR serves as a key diagnostic marker. The results of this preliminary study suggest that pXO2 is lost in nature and that further studies are need to determine the mechanisms by which this occurs.     

Sensor domains encoded in Bacillus anthracis virulence plasmids prevent sporulation by hijacking a sporulation sensor histidine kinase

Anthrax toxin and capsule, determinants for successful infection by Bacillus anthracis, are encoded on the virulence plasmids pXO1 and pXO2, respectively. Each of these plasmids also encodes proteins that are highly homologous to the signal sensor domain of a chromosomally encoded major sporulation sensor histidine kinase (BA2291) in this organism. B. anthracis Sterne overexpressing the plasmid pXO2-61-encoded signal sensor domain exhibited a significant decrease in sporulation that was suppressed by the deletion of the BA2291 gene. Expression of the sensor domains from the pXO1-118 and pXO2-61 genes in Bacillus subtilis strains carrying the B. anthracis sporulation sensor kinase BA2291 gene resulted in BA2291-dependent inhibition of sporulation. These results indicate that sporulation sensor kinase BA2291 is converted from an activator to an inhibitor of sporulation in its native host by the virulence plasmid-encoded signal sensor domains. We speculate that activation of these signal sensor domains contributes to the initiation of B. anthracis sporulation in the bloodstream of its infected host, a salient characteristic in the virulence of this organism, and provides an additional role for the virulence plasmids in anthrax pathogenesis.     

Evaluation of DNA extraction methods for Bacillus anthracis spores isolated from spiked food samples

Aims

Nine commercial DNA extraction kits were evaluated for the isolation of DNA from 10‐fold serial dilutions of Bacillus anthracis spores using quantitative real‐time PCR (qPCR). The three kits determined by qPCR to yield the most sensitive and consistent detection (Epicenter MasterPure Gram Positive; MoBio PowerFood; ABI PrepSeq) were subsequently tested for their ability to isolate DNA from trace amounts of B. anthracis spores (approx. 6·5 × 10¹ and 1·3 × 10² CFU in 25 ml or 50 g of food sample) spiked into complex food samples including apple juice, ham, whole milk and bagged salad and recovered with immunomagnetic separation (IMS).

Methods and Results

The MasterPure kit effectively and consistently isolated DNA from low amounts of B. anthracis spores captured from food samples. Detection was achieved from apple juice, ham, whole milk and bagged salad from as few as 65 ± 14, 68 ± 8, 66 ± 4 and 52 ± 16 CFU, respectively, and IMS samples were demonstrated to be free of PCR inhibitors.

Conclusions

Detection of B. anthracis spores isolated from food by IMS differs substantially between commercial DNA extraction kits; however, sensitive results can be obtained with the MasterPure Gram Positive kit.

Significance and Impact of the Study

The extraction protocol identified herein combined with IMS is novel for B. anthracis and allows detection of low levels of B. anthracis spores from contaminated food samples.     

Gamma-phage lysin PlyG sequence-based synthetic peptides coupled with Qdot-nanocrystals are useful for developing detection methods for Bacillus anthracis by using its surrogates, B. anthracis-Sterne and B. cereus-4342

Background  

Previous reports of site-directed deletion analysis on gamma (γ)-phage lysin protein (PlyG) have demonstrated that removal of a short amino acid sequence in the C-terminal region encompassing a 10-amino acid motif (190LKMTADFILQ199) abrogates its binding activity specific to the cell wall of Bacillus anthracis. Whether short synthetic peptides representing the10-amino acid PlyG putative binding motif flanked by surrounding N- and C-terminal residues also selectively bind to the bacterial cell wall has not been evaluated. If such peptides do demonstrate selective binding to the cell wall, they could serve as bio-probes towards developing detection technologies for B. anthracis. Furthermore, by using B. anthracis (Sterne, 34F2), an animal vaccine and B. cereus-4342, a γ-phage susceptible rare strain as surrogates of B. anthracis, development of proof-of-concepts for B. anthracis are feasible.     

Passive administration of monoclonal antibodies to Anthrolysin O prolong survival in mice lethally infected with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus anthracis</Emphasis>

Background  

Bacillus anthracis has two major virulence factors: a tripartite toxin that produces lethal and edema toxins and a polyglutamic acid capsule. A recent report suggested that a toxin belonging to the cholesterol dependant cytolysin (CDC) family, anthrolysin O (ALO) was a new virulence factor for B. anthracis but subsequent studies have questioned its relevance in pathogenesis. In this study, we examined the immunogenicity of recombinant anthrolysin O (rALO) in mice.     

Bacillus anthracis physiology and genetics

Bacillus anthracis is a member of the Bacillus cereus group species (also known as the “group 1 bacilli”), a collection of Gram-positive spore-forming soil bacteria that are non-fastidious facultative anaerobes with very similar growth characteristics and natural genetic exchange systems. Despite their close physiology and genetics, the B. cereus group species exhibit certain species-specific phenotypes, some of which are related to pathogenicity. B. anthracis is the etiologic agent of anthrax. Vegetative cells of B. anthracis produce anthrax toxin proteins and a poly-d-glutamic acid capsule during infection of mammalian hosts and when cultured in conditions considered to mimic the host environment. The genes associated with toxin and capsule synthesis are located on the B. anthracis plasmids, pXO1 and pXO2, respectively. Although plasmid content is considered a defining feature of the species, pXO1- and pXO2-like plasmids have been identified in strains that more closely resemble other members of the B. cereus group. The developmental nature of B. anthracis and its pathogenic (mammalian host) and environmental (soil) lifestyles of make it an interesting model for study of niche-specific bacterial gene expression and physiology.     

Biochemical and structural characterization of alanine racemase from Bacillus anthracis (Ames)

Background  

Bacillus anthracis is the causative agent of anthrax and a potential bioterrorism threat. Here we report the biochemical and structural characterization of B. anthracis (Ames) alanine racemase (Alr _Bax ), an essential enzyme in prokaryotes and a target for antimicrobial drug development. We also compare the native Alr _Bax structure to a recently reported structure of the same enzyme obtained through reductive lysine methylation.     

The genome sequence of Bacillus cereus ATCC 10987 reveals metabolic adaptations and a large plasmid related to Bacillus anthracis pXO1

We sequenced the complete genome of Bacillus cereus ATCC 10987, a non-lethal dairy isolate in the same genetic subgroup as Bacillus anthracis. Comparison of the chromosomes demonstrated that B.cereus ATCC 10987 was more similar to B.anthracis Ames than B.cereus ATCC 14579, while containing a number of unique metabolic capabilities such as urease and xylose utilization and lacking the ability to utilize nitrate and nitrite. Additionally, genetic mechanisms for variation of capsule carbohydrate and flagella surface structures were identified. Bacillus cereus ATCC 10987 contains a single large plasmid (pBc10987), of ~208 kb, that is similar in gene content and organization to B.anthracis pXO1 but is lacking the pathogenicity-associated island containing the anthrax lethal and edema toxin complex genes. The chromosomal similarity of B.cereus ATCC 10987 to B.anthracis Ames, as well as the fact that it contains a large pXO1-like plasmid, may make it a possible model for studying B.anthracis plasmid biology and regulatory cross-talk.     

Comparative analysis of virulence factors secreted by Bacillus anthracis Sterne at host body temperature

Aims: For the analysis of virulence factors produced and secreted by Bacillus anthracis vegetative cells during mammalian host infection, we evaluated the secretome of B. anthracis Sterne exposed to host‐specific factors specifically to host body temperature. Methods and Results: We employed a comparative proteomics‐based approach to analyse the proteins secreted by B. anthracis Sterne under host‐specific body temperature conditions. A total of 17 proteins encoded on a single chromosome and the pXO1 plasmid were identified by peptide mass fingerprinting. Multiple algorithms were used to predict the secretion mechanisms of the detected proteins in B. anthracis. Conclusions: Several putative virulence factors and known factors responsible for sporulation were differentially regulated, including CodY, pXO1‐130 and BA1952, revealing insights into temperature cues in the B. anthracis secretome. Significance and Impact of the Study: This study identified temperature‐regulated proteins. Further studies aimed at understanding the physical and functional roles of these proteins in infection and control by elevated temperatures will contribute to detection, diagnostics and prophylaxis.     

Molecular approaches to identify and differentiate Bacillus anthracis from phenotypically similar Bacillus species isolates

Background  

Bacillus anthracis and Bacillus cereus can usually be distinguished by standard microbiological methods (e.g., motility, hemolysis, penicillin susceptibility and susceptibility to gamma phage) and PCR. However, we have identified 23 Bacillus spp. isolates that gave discrepant results when assayed by standard microbiological methods and PCR. We used multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA), multiple-locus sequence typing (MLST), and phenotypic analysis to characterize these isolates, determine if they cluster phylogenetically and establish whether standard microbiological identification or PCR were associated with false positive/negative results.