Bacillus Anthracis

Information about Bacillus Anthracis

Bacillus anthracis

Photomicrograph of Bacillus anthracis (fuchsin-methylene blue spore stain).

Kingdom:	Bacteria
Phylum:	Firmicutes
Class:	Bacilli
Order:	Bacillales
Family:	Bacillaceae
Genus:	Bacillus
Species:	*B. anthracis*

Binomial name

Bacillus anthracis
Cohn 1872

Bacillus anthracis is a Gram-positive, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped bacterium of the genus Bacillus. An endospore forming bacterium, B. anthracis is a natural soil-dwelling organism, as well as the causative agent of anthrax.^[1]

Each cell is about 1 by 6 μm in size.

Historical background

B. anthracis was the first bacterium conclusively demonstrated to cause disease, by Robert Koch in 1877.^[2] The species name anthracis is from the Greek anthrakis (ἄνθραξ), meaning coal and referring to the most common form of the disease, cutaneous anthrax, in which large black skin lesions are formed.

Pathogenicity

Under conditions of environmental stress, B. anthracis bacteria naturally produce endospores which rest in the soil and can survive for decades in this state. When ingested by a cattle, sheep, or other herbivores, the bacteria begin to reproduce inside the animal and eventually kill it, then continue to reproduce in its carcass. Once the nutrients are exhausted, new endospores are produced and the cycle repeats.^[3]

B. anthracis has at least 89 known strains, ranging from highly virulent strains with biological warfare and bioterrorism applications (Ames and Vollum) to benign strains used for inoculations (Sterne). The strains differ in presence and activity of various genes, determining their virulence and production of antigens and toxins. The form associated with the 2001 anthrax attacks produced both toxin (consisting of three proteins: the protective antigen, the edema factor and the lethal factor) and a capsule (consisting of a polymer of glutamic acid). Infection with anthrax requires the presence of all three of these exotoxins.^[4]

The bacterium can be cultivated in ordinary nutrient medium under aerobic or anaerobic conditions.

Treatment

Main article: Anthrax

Infections with B. anthracis can be treated with β-lactam antibiotics such as penicillin, and others which are active against Gram-positive bacteria.^[5]

References

1. ^ Ryan KJ, Ray CG (editors) (2004). Sherris Medical Microbiology, 4th ed., McGraw Hill. ISBN 0-8385-8529-9.
2. ^ Madigan M, Martinko J (editors). (2005). Brock Biology of Microorganisms, 11th ed., Prentice Hall. ISBN 0-13-144329-1.
3. ^ Turnbull PCB (1996). Bacillus. In: Barron's Medical Microbiology (Baron S et al'', eds.), 4th ed., Univ of Texas Medical Branch. ISBN 0-9631172-1-1.
4. ^ Dixon TC, Meselson M, Guillemin J, Hanna PC (1999). "Anthrax". N. Engl. J. Med. 341 (11): 815-26. PMID 10477781.
5. ^ Barnes JM (1947). "Penicillin and B. anthracis.". J Path Bacteriol 194: 113.

External links

Bacillus anthracis Genome Projects

Scientific classification or biological classification is a method by which biologists group and categorize species of organisms. Scientific classification also can be called scientific taxonomy, but should be distinguished from folk taxonomy, which lacks scientific basis.
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Bacteria

Phyla

Actinobacteria
Aquificae
Chlamydiae
Bacteroidetes/Chlorobi
Chloroflexi
Chrysiogenetes
Cyanobacteria
Deferribacteres
Deinococcus-Thermus
Dictyoglomi
Fibrobacteres/Acidobacteria
Firmicutes
Fusobacteria
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Firmicutes

Classes

Bacilli
Clostridia
Mollicutes
The Firmicutes are a division of bacteria, most of which have Gram-positive cell wall structure.
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Bacilli

Orders

Bacillales
Lactobacillales

Bacilli specifically refers to a taxonomic class of bacteria. It includes two orders, Bacillales and Lactobacillales, which contain several well-known pathogens like Bacillus anthracis
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Bacillales

Families

Alicyclobacillaceae
Bacillaceae
Caryophanaceae
Listeriaceae
Paenibacillaceae
Planococcaceae
Sporolactobacillaceae
Staphylococcaceae
Thermoactinomycetaceae
Turicibacteraceae
The Bacillales
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Bacillaceae
Garrity et al. 2001

Genera

Alkalibacillus
Amphibacillus
Anoxybacillus
Bacillus
Caldalkalibacillus
Cerasibacillus
Exiguobacterium
Filobacillus
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Bacillus
Cohn 1872

Species

Bacillus anthracis
Bacillus cereus
Bacillus coagulans
Bacillus globigii
Bacillus licheniformis
Bacillus megaterium
Bacillus natto

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binomial nomenclature is the formal system of naming species. The system is also called binominal nomenclature (particularly in zoological circles), binary nomenclature (particularly in botanical circles), or the binomial classification system.
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Gram-positive bacteria are those that retain a crystal violet dye during the Gram stain process.^[1] Gram-positive bacteria appear blue or violet under a microscope, while Gram-negative bacteria appear red or pink.
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A facultative anaerobic organism is an organism, usually a bacterium, that makes ATP by aerobic respiration if oxygen is present but is also capable of switching to fermentation. In contrast, obligate anaerobes die in presence of oxygen.
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An endospore is a dormant, tough, and non-reproductive structure produced by a small number of bacteria from the Firmicute phylum. The primary function of most endospores is to ensure the survival of a bacterium through periods of environmental stress.
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Anthrax
Classification & external resources

Microphotograph of a Gram stain the bacterium Bacillus anthracis which causes anthrax.
ICD-10 A 22.
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1 micrometre =
SI units
010⁻⁶ m 010⁻³ mm
US customary / Imperial units
010⁻⁶ ft 010⁻⁶ in

A micrometre (American spelling: micrometer; symbol µm
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Robert Koch

Robert Koch
Born November 11 1843
Clausthal, Hanover
Died May 27 1910 (aged 68)
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Greek}}}
Writing system: Greek alphabet
Official status
Official language of: Greece
Cyprus
European Union
recognised as minority language in parts of:
European Union
Italy
Turkey
Regulated by:
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Skin layers: epidermis, dermis, and subcutis, showing a hair follicle, sweat gland & sebaceous gland.]] In zootomy and dermatology, skin is the largest organ of the integumentary system made up of multiple layers of epithelial tissues that guard underlying muscles and organs.
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Lesion is derived from the Latin word "laesio" which means "injury."

A lesion is any abnormal tissue found on or in an organism, usually damaged by disease or trauma.

Causes of lesions

Lesions are caused by any process that damages tissues.
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Herbivory is a form of predation in which an organism known as an herbivore, consumes principally autotrophs^[1] such as plants, algae and photosynthesizing bacteria.
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strain is used in three related ways.

Microbiology/Virology

A strain is a genetic variant or subtype of a virus or bacterium. For example, a "flu strain" is a certain biological form of the influenza or "flu" virus. Compare clade.
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For the use of biological agents by terrorists, see bioterrorism.

Biological warfare (BW), also known as a germ warfare, biological weapons, and bioweapons
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Bioterrorism is terrorism by intentional release or dissemination of biological agents (bacteria, viruses or toxins); these may be in a naturally-occurring or in a human-modified form.

Definition

According to the U.S.
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The Ames strain is one of 89 strains of the anthrax bacterium (Bacillus anthracis). It was isolated from a diseased cow that died in Texas in 1981. [1] Researchers at the time mistakenly believed the strain came from Ames, Iowa and mislabeled the specimen.
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The word "Inoculation" refers to the placement of something to where it will grow or reproduce, and is most commonly used in respect of the introduction of a serum, vaccine, or antigenic substance into the body of a human or animal, especially to produce or boost immunity to a
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For a non-technical introduction to the topic, see .

A gene is a locatable region of genomic sequence, corresponding to a unit of inheritance, which is associated with regulatory regions, transcribed regions and/or other functional sequence regions.
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For the album by Only Crime, see Virulence (album)

Virulence refers to the degree of pathogenicity of a microbe, or in other words the relative ability of a microbe to cause disease.
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An antigen or immunogen is a molecule that stimulates an immune response. The word originated from the notion that they can stimulate antibody generation. We now know that the immune system does not only consist of antibodies.
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toxin (Greek: τοξικόν, toxikon, lit. (poison) for use on arrows) is a poisonous substance produced by living cells or organisms.
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2001 anthrax attacks

A letter sent to Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle containing anthrax powder killed two postal workers
Location New York City, New York, Boca Raton, Florida and Washington, D.C.
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