Detection of a luxS -Signaling Molecule in Bacillus anthracis

Role of luxS in Bacillus anthracis growth and virulence factor expression.

Quorum-sensing (QS), the regulation of bacterial gene expression in response to changes in cell density, involves pathways that synthesize signaling molecules (auto-inducers). The luxS/AI-2-mediated QS system has been identified in both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Bacillus anthracis, the etiological agent of anthrax, possesses genes involved in luxS/AI-2-mediated QS, and deletion ...

CXCL10 Acts as a Bifunctional Antimicrobial Molecule against Bacillus anthracis

UNLABELLED Bacillus anthracis is killed by the interferon-inducible, ELR(-) CXC chemokine CXCL10. Previous studies showed that disruption of the gene encoding FtsX, a conserved membrane component of the ATP-binding cassette transporter-like complex FtsE/X, resulted in resistance to CXCL10. FtsX exhibits some sequence similarity to the mammalian CXCL10 receptor, CXCR3, suggesting that the CXCL10...

Environmental detection of Bacillus anthracis spores

Transduction in Bacillus cereus and Bacillus anthracis.

A phage, designated CP-51, that carries out generalized transduction in Bacillus cereus and B. anthracis, has recently been isolated from soil. Transducing phages for members of the genus Bacillus have been described previously for B. subtilis and B. licheniformis (2-6). Those that have been best characterized are PBS-1 for B. subtilis (4) and SP-10 and SP-15 for both B. subtilis and B. licheni...

Fast and sensitive detection of Bacillus anthracis spores by immunoassay.

Bacillus anthracis is one of the most dangerous potential biological weapons, and it is essential to develop a rapid and simple method to detect B. anthracis spores in environmental samples. The immunoassay is a rapid and easy-to-use method for the detection of B. anthracis by means of antibodies directed against surface spore antigens. With this objective in view, we have produced a panel of m...