Here, we report the draft genome sequences of the type strains of three cellulolytic or hemicellulolytic alkaliphilic Bacillus species: Bacillus wakoensis, Bacillus akibai, and Bacillus hemicellulosilyticus. The genome information for these three strains will be useful for studies of alkaliphilic Bacillus species, their evolution, and biotechnological applications for their enzymes.

The Bacillus anthracis strain STI is a Soviet vaccine strain that lacks the pXO2 plasmid. Previous data indicate that this isolate forms a new branch within the B. anthracis sub-group originally identified as A. Br.008/009.

*Correspondence should be addressed to Ernesto Abel-Santos or Jürgen Brojatsch. EAS: Department of Chemistry, University of Nevada Las Vegas, 4505 Maryland Pkwy-Box 454003, Las Vegas, NV 89154, Tel. 702 895-2608, Fax. 702 895-4072, E-mail: [email protected]. JB: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Golding 404, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx,...

A 277-bp long DNA fragment, Ba813, was isolated from an avirulent Bacillus anthracis strain 7700 genomic library. Two oligonucleotides derived from the Ba813 sequence were used as primers in polymerase chain reaction tests on genomic DNA from 28 Bacillus anthracis and from 33 heterologous bacteria strains. A specific, 152-bp long DNA fragment was amplified only when Bacillus anthracis DNA was u...

The three species of the group 1 bacilli, Bacillus anthracis, B. cereus, and B. thuringiensis, are genetically very closely related. All inhabit soil habitats but exhibit different phenotypes. B. anthracis is the causative agent of anthrax and is phylogenetically monomorphic, while B. cereus and B. thuringiensis are genetically more diverse. An amplified fragment length polymorphism analysis de...

The Bacillus anthracis Sterne plasmid pXO1 was sequenced by random, "shotgun" cloning. A circular sequence of 181,654 bp was generated. One hundred forty-three open reading frames (ORFs) were predicted using GeneMark and GeneMark.hmm, comprising only 61% (110,817 bp) of the pXO1 DNA sequence. The overall guanine-plus-cytosine content of the plasmid is 32.5%. The most recognizable feature of the...

To isolate and detect anthrax spores from soil in different regions of Isfahan, Iran a total of 60 environmental specimens were collected during 2003. Bacterial endospores were extracted via flotation in distilled water and were cultured on blood agar and selective PLET media. Bacillus anthracis was identified using bacteriological and biological tests. Viable Bacillus anthracis spores were iso...

In order to cause the disease anthrax, Bacillus anthracis requires two plasmids, pX01 and pX02, which carry toxin and capsule genes, respectively, that are used as genetic targets in the laboratory detection of the bacterium. Clinical, forensic, and environmental samples that test positive by PCR protocols established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for B. anthracis are consid...

conclusion the designed methods are accurate, rapid, and inexpensive to find and differentiate these bacteria from similar bacteria. they can be applied for rapid diagnosis of these agents in different specimens, and bioterrorism cases. background salmonella typhi, bacillus anthracis, and yersinia pestis are some serious human pathogens, which their early diagnosis is of great importance. salmo...