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Braun, P.* ; Grass, G.* ; Aceti, A.* ; Serrecchia, L.* ; Affuso, A.* ; Marino, L.* ; Grimaldi, S.* ; Pagano, S.* ; Hanczaruk, M.* ; Georgi, E.* ; Northoff, B.* ; Schöler, A. ; Schloter, M. ; Antwerpen, M.* ; Fasanella, A.*

Microevolution of Anthrax from a Young Ancestor (MAYA) suggests a soil-borne life cycle of Bacillus anthracis.

PLoS ONE 10:e0135346 (2015)
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During an anthrax outbreak at the Pollino National Park (Basilicata, Italy) in 2004, diseased cattle were buried and from these anthrax-foci Bacillus anthracis endospores still diffuse to the surface resulting in local accumulations. Recent data suggest that B. anthracis multiplies in soil outside the animal-host body. This notion is supported by the frequent isolation of B. anthracis from soil lacking one or both virulence plasmids. Such strains represent an evolutionary dead end, as they are likely no longer able to successfully infect new hosts. This loss of virulence plasmids is explained most simply by postulating a soil-borne life cycle of the pathogen. To test this hypothesis we investigated possible microevolution at two natural anthrax foci from the 2004 outbreak. If valid, then genotypes of strains isolated from near the surface at these foci should be on a different evolutionary trajectory from those below residing in deeper-laying horizons close to the carcass. Thus, the genetic diversity of B. anthracis isolates was compared conducting Progressive Hierarchical Resolving Assays using Nucleic Acids (PHRANA) and next generation Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS). PHRANA was not discriminatory enough to resolve the fine genetic relationships between the isolates. Conversely, WGS of nine isolates from near-surface and nine from near-carcass revealed five isolate specific SNPs, four of which were found only in different near-surface isolates. In support of our hypothesis, one surface-isolate lacked plasmid pXO1 and also harbored one of the unique SNPs. Taken together, our results suggest a limited soil-borne life cycle of B. anthracis.
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Publication type Article: Journal article
Document type Scientific Article
Keywords Nucleotide Repeat Analysis; Copy Number; Outbreak; Cereus; Diversity; Epidemiology; Rhizosphere; Germination; Sequence; System
Language english
Publication Year 2015
HGF-reported in Year 2015
ISSN (print) / ISBN 1932-6203
Journal PLoS ONE
Quellenangaben Volume: 10, Issue: 8, Pages: , Article Number: e0135346 Supplement: ,
Publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Publishing Place Lawrence, Kan.
Reviewing status Peer reviewed
Institute(s) Research Unit Comparative Microbiome Analysis (COMI)
POF-Topic(s) 30202 - Environmental Health
Research field(s) Environmental Sciences
PSP Element(s) G-504700-001
DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0135346
WOS ID WOS:000359492300101
Scopus ID 84942910289
Erfassungsdatum 2015-09-04
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