Showing papers on "Bacillus anthracis published in 1983"
TL;DR: It is likely that B. anthracis strains of temperature-sensitive plasmids which code for toxin structural or regulatory proteins are cured, like Pasteur vaccine strains, which were cured of their resident extrachromosomal gene pools by sequential passage of cultures.
Abstract: Large-molecular-weight plasmids were isolated from virulent and avirulent strains of Bacillus anthracis. Each strain contained a single plasmid species unique from the others with respect to molecular weight. Bacterial strains were cured of their resident extrachromosomal gene pools by sequential passage of cultures at 42.5 degrees C. Coincidental to the curing of plasmids was a loss of detectable lethal toxin and edema-producing activities and a dramatic decrease in lethal factor and protective antigen serological activities. The involvement of these plasmids in the production of toxin was firmly established by transformation of heat-passaged cells with plasmid DNA purified from the parent strain. The ability to produce parent strain levels of toxin was restored, and the plasmid DNA similar in molecular weight to that isolated from the parent was reisolated in all transformants examined. The exact role these plasmids play in the production of toxin remains to be elucidated. Two additional strains of B. anthracis, designated Pasteur vaccine strains, were examined for the ability to produce toxin and for the presence of plasmid DNA. Both strains were found to be nontoxigenic and contained no detectable plasmid elements. It is therefore likely that we, like Pasteur, cured B. anthracis strains of temperature-sensitive plasmids which code for toxin structural or regulatory proteins.
322 citations
TL;DR: Recombinant plasmids containing the PA gene have been isolated in the E. coli vector pBR322 from Bam HI-generated fragments of the anthrax plasmid, pBA1.
151 citations
TL;DR: Improved culture conditions and a completely synthetic medium (R medium) were developed to facilitate the production of Bacillus anthracis holotoxin antigens as discussed by the authors, up to fivefold higher than the highest previously reported values.
Abstract: Improved culture conditions and a new, completely synthetic medium (R medium) were developed to facilitate the production of Bacillus anthracis holotoxin antigens. Levels of these antigens up to fivefold greater than the highest previously reported values were recovered with the described system. Cultures of Sterne, V770-NP1-R, and Vollum 1B strains of B. anthracis were monitored for growth, pH change, glucose utilization, supernatant protein concentration, lethal toxin activity, and protease activity.
117 citations
TL;DR: Bacillus anthracis was agglutinated by several lectins, including those from Griffonia simplicifolia, Glycine max, Abrus precatorius, and Ricinus communis, and some strains of Bacillus cereus var.
Abstract: Bacillus anthracis was agglutinated by several lectins, including those from Griffonia simplicifolia, Glycine max, Abrus precatorius, and Ricinus communis. Some strains of Bacillus cereus var. mycoides (B. mycoides) were strongly reactive with the lectin from Helix pomatia and weakly reactive with the G. max lectin. The differential interactions between Bacillus species and lectins afforded a means of distinguishing B. anthracis from other bacilli. B. cereus strains exhibited heterogeneity with respect to agglutination patterns by lectins but could readily be differentiated from B. anthracis and the related B. mycoides. Spores of B. anthracis and B. mycoides retained lectin receptors, although the heating of spores or vegetative cells at 100 degrees C resulted in a decrease in their ability to be specifically agglutinated. Fluorescein-conjugated lectin of G. max stained vegetative cells of B. anthracis uniformly, suggesting that the distribution of lectin receptors was continuous over the entire cellular surface. B. anthracis cells grown under conditions to promote the production of capsular poly(D-glutamyl peptide) were also readily agglutinated by the lectins, suggesting that the lectin reactive sites penetrate the polypeptide layer. Trypsin, subtilisin, lysozyme, and mutanolysin did not modify the reactivity of B. anthracis with the G. max agglutinin, although the same enzymes markedly diminished the interaction between the lectin and B. mycoides. Because the lectins which interact with B. anthracis are specific for alpha-D-galactose or 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-alpha-D-galactose residues, it is likely that the bacteria possess cell surface polymers which contain these sugars. Lectins may prove useful in the laboratory identification of B. anthracis and possibly other pathogenic Bacillus species, such as B. cereus. Images
61 citations
TL;DR: The effect of treating the soil with sporicidal chemicals, namely, potassium permanganate, formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, Cidex, Surgikos, dodecylamine and peracetic acid, is investigated.
Abstract: In experiments on Gruinard Island 40 years ago small bombs containing spores of Bacillus anthracis were suspended from a gantry and detonated, producing widespread contamination of the island's surface. Recently, analysis of soil samples has shown that the area where the spores can now be detected is small enough to be considered for decontamination1. We investigated the effect of treating the soil with sporicidal chemicals, namely, potassium permanganate, formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, Cidex (‘activated’ glutaraldehyde, Surgikos), dodecylamine and peracetic acid.
56 citations
TL;DR: A quantitative immunofluorescence assay based on fiber optic microscopy was used to measure the reaction of formalized spores of Bacillus anthracis and Bacillus cereus isolates with fluorescein conjugates prepared by hyperimmunization with B. anthracIS Vollum spores.
Abstract: A quantitative immunofluorescence assay based on fiber optic microscopy was used to measure the reaction of formalized spores of Bacillus anthracis and Bacillus cereus isolates with fluorescein conjugates prepared by hyperimmunization with B. anthracis Vollum spores. The spores of 11 of the 20 B. cereus strains reacted with the anti-anthrax conjugate to such an extent that they were indistinguishable from the spores of the several B. anthracis isolates tested. However, absorption of the conjugate with spores of B. cereus NCTC 8035 and B. cereus NCTC 10320 greatly reduced the cross-reaction with the B. cereus preparations so that the mean specific fluorescence of samples of B. cereus spores was in no case higher than 14% of the fluorescence of a reference B. anthracis Vollum preparation.
33 citations
TL;DR: A fluorescein-conjugated antibody against formalin-inactivated spores of Bacillus anthracis Vollum reacted only weakly with a variety of Bacilli species in microfluorometric immunofluorescence assays, indicating that more than one anthrax spore serotype exists.
Abstract: A fluorescein-conjugated antibody against formalin-inactivated spores of Bacillus anthracis Vollum reacted only weakly with a variety of Bacillus species in microfluorometric immunofluorescence assays. A conjugated antibody against spores of B. anthracis Sterne showed little affinity for spores of several B. anthracis isolates including B. anthracis Vollum, indicating that more than one anthrax spore serotype exists.
14 citations
01 Jan 1983
TL;DR: A fluorescein-conjugated antibody against formalin-inactivated Bacillus anthracis Vollum reacted only weakly with a variety of Bacillus species in microfluorometric immunofluorescence assays.
Abstract: A fluorescein-conjugated antibody against formalin-inactivated spores of Bacillus anthracis Vollum reacted only weakly with a variety of Bacillus species in microfluorometric immunofluorescence assays. A conjugated antibody against spores of B. anthracis Sterne showed little affinity for spores of several B. anthracis isolates including B. anthracis Vollum, indicating that more than one anthrax spore serotype exists.
13 citations
TL;DR: A solid phase immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) is described in which Bacillus anthracis spores were heat fixed to the wells of glass multispot microscope slides and evidence was produced that the overall ratio of the indirect : direct antibody molecules bound by preparations of B. anthracIS spores rarely exceeded two but the antibody-molecular ratio for antigens on extracellular material in spore preparations was much higher than the ratio for ants on the spores themselves.
Abstract: A solid phase immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) is described in which Bacillus anthracis spores were heat fixed to the wells of glass multispot microscope slides. Assays for spores of B. anthracis Vollum and Sterne strains with 3H labels were evaluated in the direct and indirect versions. Neither single nor signal-to-noise characteristics of indirect assays were greatly improved by the use of immunopurified antibody (IPAB) or IgG anti-bacterial reagents rather than antiserum. However, the specificity of the direct and indirect assays for B. anthracis strains and B. cereus NCTC 8035 was altered by immunopurification of the anti-bacterial reagent. Although the signal-to-noise ratio was sometimes higher in indirect than in direct assays, signal values were usually no better. Evidence was produced that the overall ratio of the indirect : direct antibody molecules bound by preparations of B. anthracis spores rarely exceeded two but the antibody-molecular ratio for antigens on extracellular material in spore preparations was much higher than the ratio for antigens on the spores themselves.
13 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: A fatal case of anthrax meningitis in a 45-year-old woman from Karnataka State, South India is presented and the clinical, microbiological and histopathological profile is presented.
Abstract: A fatal case of anthrax meningitis in a 45-year-old woman is presented from Karnataka State, South India. The clinical, microbiological and histopathological profile is presented.
9 citations
TL;DR: A patient developed anthrax of his left long finger after an accidental injection with Bacillus anthracis, and early treatment with chemotherapy probably prevented the cultures from becoming positive.
Abstract: A patient developed anthrax of his left long finger after an accidental injection with Bacillus anthracis . Early treatment with chemotherapy probably prevented the cultures from becoming positive. The patient recovered, and split-thickness skin grafting was needed for the finger wound.
TL;DR: A lesion was found on the skin over the lower pole of the right scrotum in a six-year-old boy and the child responded well to penicillin.
Abstract: SUMMARYA case of scrotal anthrax is presented. The lesion was found on the skin over the lower pole of the right scrotum in a six-year-old boy. Bacillus anthracis was isolated from the lesion and the child responded well to penicillin.