| Title |
Whole genome sequencing and identification of Bacillus endophyticus and B. anthracis isolated from anthrax outbreaks in South Africa
|
|---|---|
| Published in |
BMC Microbiology, July 2018
|
| DOI | 10.1186/s12866-018-1205-9 |
| Pubmed ID | |
| Authors |
Kgaugelo Edward Lekota, Oliver Keoagile Ignatius Bezuidt, Joseph Mafofo, Jasper Rees, Farai Catherine Muchadeyi, Evelyn Madoroba, Henriette van Heerden |
| Abstract |
Bacillus endophyticus is a soil plant-endophytic bacterium, while B. anthracis is the causative agent of anthrax. The virulence factors of B. anthracis are the plasmid encoded tripartite toxins (pXO1) and poly-γ-glutamic acid (PGA) capsule (pXO2). B. endophyticus isolated alongside B. anthracis from animals that died of anthrax in Northern Cape Province (NCP), South Africa, harbored polyglutamate genes. The study compared the characteristics of B. anthracis and B. endophyticus with other Bacillus species with a focus on the presence of the PGA capsule or/and unbound PGA. The morphology and whole genome sequence analysis of B. endophyticus strains and B. anthracis were compared. In conventional microbiology, B. endophyticus showed gram-positive round-shaped rods in single/short chains, which were endospore-forming, non-motile, non-haemolytic with white and dry colonies, and γ-phage resistant. B. anthracis was differentiated from B. endophyticus based on the latter's box-shaped rods in pairs/long chains, white-grey and slimy colonies, encapsulated and γ-phage susceptible. The study identified a PGA polyglutamate synthase operon that consisted of pgsBCA, γ-glutamyltranspeptidase (ggt) and pgsE in B. endophyticus genomes. PGA regions of B. anthracis contain capBCADE genes located in the pXO2 required for capsulation formation, while B. endophyticus contain the pgsBCAE genes in the chromosome. Whole genome and microbiology analysis identified B. endophyticus, as a non-capsuled endospore-forming bacterium that consists of PGA required for biosynthesis. B. endophyticus strains do not synthesize surface associated PGA, therefore capsule visualization of B. anthracis is a key diagnostic characteristic. The study highlights the significance of using whole genome shotgun sequencing to identify virulence and other important genes that might be present amongst unknown samples from natural outbreaks. None of the B. anthracis related plasmids or virulence genes were found in the B. endophyticus genomes. |
X Demographics
The data shown below were collected from the profile of 1 X user who shared this research output. Click here to find out more about how the information was compiled.
Geographical breakdown
| Country | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of | 1 | 100% |
Demographic breakdown
| Type | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Scientists | 1 | 100% |
Mendeley readers
The data shown below were compiled from readership statistics for 33 Mendeley readers of this research output. Click here to see the associated Mendeley record.
Geographical breakdown
| Country | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 33 | 100% |
Demographic breakdown
| Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Researcher | 6 | 18% |
| Student > Ph. D. Student | 4 | 12% |
| Student > Postgraduate | 3 | 9% |
| Student > Bachelor | 2 | 6% |
| Professor > Associate Professor | 2 | 6% |
| Other | 6 | 18% |
| Unknown | 10 | 30% |
| Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 7 | 21% |
| Veterinary Science and Veterinary Medicine | 6 | 18% |
| Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 3 | 9% |
| Immunology and Microbiology | 2 | 6% |
| Chemical Engineering | 1 | 3% |
| Other | 4 | 12% |
| Unknown | 10 | 30% |
Attention Score in Context
This research output has an Altmetric Attention Score of 1. This is our high-level measure of the quality and quantity of online attention that it has received. This Attention Score, as well as the ranking and number of research outputs shown below, was calculated when the research output was last mentioned on 10 July 2018.
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#20,525,274
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Outputs from BMC Microbiology
#2,709
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#286,159
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Outputs of similar age from BMC Microbiology
#37
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