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The role of the exosporium in the environmental distribution of anthrax
Author(s) -
Williams G.,
Linley E.,
Nicholas R.,
Baillie L.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of applied microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.889
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1365-2672
pISSN - 1364-5072
DOI - 10.1111/jam.12034
Subject(s) - distribution (mathematics) , anthrax vaccines , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , environmental health , medicine , genetics , mathematics , antibody , dna vaccination , mathematical analysis , immunization
Abstract Aims To determine the contribution of the exosporium, the outer layer of the B acillus anthracis spore, to soil attachment. Persistence of spores in soil and their ability to infect animals has been linked to a range of factors which include the presence of organic material and calcium ( OMC ), pH > 6·0, temperatures above 15·5°C and cycles of local flooding which are thought to transport buried spores to the surface. Methods and Results The ability of wild type (exosporium +ve) and sonicated (exosporium −ve) spores to bind to soils which differed in their composition was determined using a flow‐through soil column‐based method. A statistically significant difference ( P < 0·05) in the binding of wild type spores was observed with spores adhering more firmly to the soil with the highest OMC content. We also found that the removal of the exosporium increased the ability of the spore to adhere to both soil types. Conclusion Structures within the exosporium affected the ability of B . anthracis spores to bind to different soil types. Not surprisingly, wild type spores adhered to soil which has been shown to favour the persistence of the pathogen. Significance and Impact of the Study The ability to persist in and colonise the soil surface is a key requirement of a pathogen which infects grazing animals. By characterising the process involved, we will be better placed to develop strategies to disrupt the infection cycle.