Genetic Diversity among Bacillus anthracis Soil Isolates at Fine Geographic Scales

A study of Bacillus anthracis isolates from carcass sites in Wood Buffalo National Park and the Hook Lake Region revealed significant genetic diversity at fine geographic scales, challenging assumptions about hierarchical typing methods. While multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA15) grouped isolates into two clades, single-nucleotide-repeat analysis (SNRA) distinguished isolates even within a single carcass site, indicating finer-scale genetic variation than previously recognized. The findings suggest that SNRA may be more sensitive for detecting subtle genetic differences in B. anthracis populations, raising questions about the robustness of current typing approaches.

Stratilo, C. W., & Bader, D. E. (2012). Genetic Diversity among Bacillus anthracis Soil Isolates at Fine Geographic Scales. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 78(18), 6433–6437. https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.01036-12