Scorpio, AngeloBoyd, AnnGut, IanDawson, David2019-04-112019-04-112019-04-11http://hdl.handle.net/11603/13407The bacterial agents on the select agent list have been well characterized. Bacillus cereus biovar anthracis has not been well characterized as a biological threat agent. This study will inform relevant agencies on the sporulation of the bacterium and its disease course and virulence will be compared to B. anthracis. This study will provide data to fill knowledge gaps and inform risk-modeling scenarios.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.42 Pagesen-USCC0 1.0 UniversalbacteriaBacillus anthracisBacillus cereus biovar anthracisNew Zealand White RabbitsText