Evaluation of Gamma-Radiation Inactivation of a Bioterrorism Agent, Bacillus anthracis Spores, on Different Materials

Foods have been identified as a potential target for bioterrorism due to their essential nature and global distribution. Foods produced in bulk have the potential to have large batches of product intentionally contaminated, which could affect hundreds or thousands of individuals. Bacillus anthracis spores are one potential bioterrorism agent that may survive pasteurization and remain viable throughout the shelf life of fruit juices and cause disease if consumed. This project examined B. anthracis spore survival in orange, apple, and grape juices, as well as wine. Samples of beverages were inoculated with spores of two nonpathogenic B. anthracis strains at approximately 106 CFU/ml, and the spore count was determined periodically during storage for 30 days at 4°C. After this time, the counts of survival spores never declined more than 1 log CFU/ml in any of the beverage types. These results indicate that spores can survive, with little to no loss in viability, for at least a month in fruit juices and wine.

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Dendritic Cells Endocytose Bacillus Anthracis Spores: Implications for Anthrax Pathogenesis

10.21236/ada434591 ◽

2005 ◽

Author(s):

Katherine C. Brittingham ◽

Gordon Ruthel ◽

Rekha G. Panchal ◽

Claudette L. Fuller ◽

Wilson J. Ribot

Keyword(s):

Dendritic Cells ◽

Bacillus Anthracis ◽

Bacillus Anthracis Spores

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Simultaneous Bacillus anthracis Spores Detection via Aminated-Poly(vinyl chloride) Coated Piezoelectric Crystal Immunosensor

Journal of Coatings ◽

10.1155/2014/256168 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 2014 ◽

pp. 1-8 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Ali Oztuna ◽

Hasan Nazir ◽

Mehmet Baysallar

Keyword(s):

Bacillus Anthracis ◽

Vinyl Chloride ◽

Quartz Crystal ◽

Adhesive Layer ◽

Antibody Immobilization ◽

Potential Threat ◽

Amine Functionalized ◽

Poly Vinyl Chloride ◽

Bacillus Anthracis Spores ◽

Flow Through

Bacillus anthracis spores are a potential threat to countries in the context of biodefense. We have already seen the destructiveness of the anthrax attacks in the recent past. This study presents an aminated-poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC-NH2) coated quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) immunosensor for simultaneous rapid detection of B. anthracis spores. PVC-NH2, synthesized in the laboratory, was used as an adhesive layer for monoclonal antibody immobilization on gold quartz crystal. The prepared QCM sensor was tested using a pathogen field strain of B. anthracis (GenBank number: GQ375871.1) under static addition and flow through procedures with different spore concentrations. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were performed to characterize the surface of the sensor during the modification. Furthermore, a series of SEM micrographs were taken in order to investigate surface morphology and show the presence of the B. anthracis spores on the surface. It is concluded that B. anthracis spores can be accomplished by using amine functionalized polymer coated QCM sensors without requiring complicated immobilization procedures or expensive preliminary preparations.

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Murine splenocytes produce inflammatory cytokines in a MyD88-dependent response to Bacillus anthracis spores

Cellular Microbiology ◽

10.1111/j.1462-5822.2006.00806.x ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 502-513 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

Ian J. Glomski ◽

Jörg H. Fritz ◽

Selina J. Keppler ◽

Viviane Balloy ◽

Michel Chignard ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bacillus Anthracis ◽

Inflammatory Cytokines ◽

Murine Splenocytes ◽

Bacillus Anthracis Spores

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Multigeneration Cross-Contamination of Mail with Bacillus anthracis Spores

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0152225 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. e0152225 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Jason Edmonds ◽

H. D. Alan Lindquist ◽

Jonathan Sabol ◽

Kenneth Martinez ◽

Sean Shadomy ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bacillus Anthracis ◽

Cross Contamination ◽

Bacillus Anthracis Spores

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RAZOR™ EX Anthrax Air Detection System for Detection of Bacillus anthracis Spores from Aerosol Collection Samples: Collaborative Study

Journal of AOAC International ◽

10.5740/jaoacint.cs2012-06 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 96 (2) ◽

pp. 392-398 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Ted Hadfield ◽

Valorie Ryan ◽

Usha K Spaulding ◽

Kristine M Clemens ◽

Irene M Ota ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Confidence Interval ◽

Bacillus Anthracis ◽

Detection System ◽

Collaborative Study ◽

Probability Of Detection ◽

Data Sets ◽

Method Performance ◽

Bacillus Anthracis Spores ◽

Phosphate Buffered Saline ◽

Positive Results

Abstract The RAZOR™ EX Anthrax Air Detection System was validated in a collaborative study for the detection of Bacillus anthracis in aerosol collection buffer. Phosphate-buffered saline was charged with 1 mg/mL standardized dust to simulate an authentic aerosol collection sample. The dust-charged buffer was spiked with either B. anthracis Ames at 2000 spores/mL or Bacillus cereus at 20 000 spores/mL. Twelve collaborators participated in the study, with four collaborators at each of three sites. Each collaborator tested 12 replicates of B. anthracis in dust-charged buffer and 12 replicates of B. cereus in dust-charged buffer. All samples sets were randomized and blind-coded. All collaborators produced valid data sets (no collaborators displayed systematic errors) and there was only one invalid data point. After unblinding, the analysis revealed a cross-collaborator probability of detection (CPOD) of 1.00 (144 positive results from 144 replicates, 95% confidence interval 0.975–1.00) for the B. anthracis samples and a CPOD of 0.00 (0 positive results from 143 replicates, 95% confidence interval 0.00–0.0262) for the B. cereus samples. These data meet the requirements of AOAC Standard Method Performance Requirement 2010.003, developed by the Stakeholder Panel on Agent Detection Assays.

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Phage coated magnetoelastic micro-biosensors for real-time detection of Bacillus anthracis spores☆

Sensors and Actuators B Chemical ◽

10.1016/j.snb.2009.01.027 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 137 (2) ◽

pp. 501-506 ◽

Cited By ~ 55

Author(s):

Wen Shen ◽

Ramji S. Lakshmanan ◽

Leslie C. Mathison ◽

Valery A. Petrenko ◽

Bryan A. Chin

Keyword(s):

Bacillus Anthracis ◽

Real Time ◽

Bacillus Anthracis Spores ◽

Real Time Detection

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Forensic Application of Microbiological Culture Analysis To Identify Mail Intentionally Contaminated with Bacillus anthracis Spores

Applied and Environmental Microbiology ◽

10.1128/aem.00940-06 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 72 (8) ◽

pp. 5304-5310 ◽

Cited By ~ 43

Author(s):

Douglas J. Beecher

Keyword(s):

Bacillus Anthracis ◽

Protective Clothing ◽

Culture Media ◽

Sampling Strategy ◽

Tracking Data ◽

Forensic Application ◽

Visual Examination ◽

Plastic Bags ◽

Bacillus Anthracis Spores ◽

Hot Zone

ABSTRACT The discovery of a letter intentionally filled with dried Bacillus anthracis spores in the office of a United States senator prompted the collection and quarantine of all mail in congressional buildings. This mail was subsequently searched for additional intentionally contaminated letters. A microbiological sampling strategy was used to locate heavy contamination within the 642 separate plastic bags containing the mail. Swab sampling identified 20 bags for manual and visual examination. Air sampling within the 20 bags indicated that one bag was orders of magnitude more contaminated than all the others. This bag contained a letter addressed to Senator Patrick Leahy that had been loaded with dried B. anthracis spores. Microbiological sampling of compartmentalized batches of mail proved to be efficient and relatively safe. Efficiency was increased by inoculating culture media in the hot zone rather than transferring swab samples to a laboratory for inoculation. All mail sampling was complete within 4 days with minimal contamination of the sampling environment or personnel. However, physically handling the intentionally contaminated letter proved to be exceptionally hazardous, as did sorting of cross-contaminated mail, which resulted in generation of hazardous aerosol and extensive contamination of protective clothing. Nearly 8 × 106 CFU was removed from the most highly cross-contaminated piece of mail found. Tracking data indicated that this and other heavily contaminated envelopes had been processed through the same mail sorting equipment as, and within 1 s of, two intentionally contaminated letters.

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