Evaluation of Bacillus cereus biovar anthracis In Various Sporulation Media and Assessment Of Its Virulence In New Zealand White Rabbits

Author/Creator

Author/Creator ORCID

Date

2019-04-11

Department

Biology

Program

Hood College Biomedical and Environmental

Citation of Original Publication

Rights

CC0 1.0 Universal

Abstract

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) added Bacillus cereus biovar anthracis to the list of select agents and toxins. This means the bacterium has the potential to pose a severe threat to public health and safety. Bacillus cereus biovar anthracis is known to cause anthrax-like disease in mammals in Sub-Saharan Africa. Although it has been shown that B. cereus biovar anthracis can cause anthrax disease, it has not been well studied as a potential biothreat agent. This work is necessary because of the potential of a terrorist coming into possession of the bacterium and dispersing it. To analyze its potential as a biological threat, it is necessary to analyze the sporulation properties. To do this, common sporulation media traditionally used to grow other spore forming bacilli, B. cereus and B. anthracis, will be used and the resulting spores will be analyzed for yield and heat resistance. The strain and media combination that results in the most heat stable spores will be selected and used to evaluate virulence. Disease course and virulence (median lethal dose or LD50) will be evaluated in New Zealand White rabbits and the results compared to published data for B. anthracis.