Genetic Diversity of Australian <i>Bacillus anthracis</i> Isolates Revealed by Multiple-Locus Variable-Number Tandem Repeat Analysis
Outbreaks of anthrax occur sporadically in Australia and most commonly in the “anthrax belt”, a region which extends from southern Queensland through the centre of New South Wales and into northern Victoria. Little is known about the epidemiological links between <i>Bacillus anthracis</i>...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2020-06-01
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| Series: | Microorganisms |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/8/6/886 |
| _version_ | 1827715238748749824 |
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| author | Janine Muller Ilhan Mohammad Simone Warner Roger Paskin Fiona Constable Mark Fegan |
| author_facet | Janine Muller Ilhan Mohammad Simone Warner Roger Paskin Fiona Constable Mark Fegan |
| author_sort | Janine Muller |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Outbreaks of anthrax occur sporadically in Australia and most commonly in the “anthrax belt”, a region which extends from southern Queensland through the centre of New South Wales and into northern Victoria. Little is known about the epidemiological links between <i>Bacillus anthracis</i> isolates taken from different outbreaks and the diversity of strains within Australia. We used multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis employing 25 markers (MLVA25) to genotype 99 <i>B. anthracis</i> isolates from an archival collection of Australian isolates. MLVA25 genotyping revealed eight unique genotypes which clustered within the previously defined A3 genotype of <i>B. anthracis</i>. Genotyping of <i>B. anthracis</i> strains from outbreaks of disease in Victoria identified the presence of multiple genotypes associated with these outbreaks. The geographical distribution of genotypes within Australia suggests that a single genotype was introduced into the eastern states of Australia, followed by the spread and localised differentiation of the pathogen (MLVA25 genotypes MG1-MG6) throughout the anthrax belt. In contrast, unexplained occurrences of disease in areas outside of this anthrax belt which are associated with different genotypes, (MLVA25 genotypes MG7 and MG8) indicate separate introductions of <i>B. anthracis</i> into Australia. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:14:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f10d9c6166eb4869b1c5209d9132ba9e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2607 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:14:35Z |
| publishDate | 2020-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microorganisms |
| spelling | doaj.art-f10d9c6166eb4869b1c5209d9132ba9e2023-11-20T03:31:13ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072020-06-018688610.3390/microorganisms8060886Genetic Diversity of Australian <i>Bacillus anthracis</i> Isolates Revealed by Multiple-Locus Variable-Number Tandem Repeat AnalysisJanine Muller0Ilhan Mohammad1Simone Warner2Roger Paskin3Fiona Constable4Mark Fegan5Agriculture Victoria, Department of Jobs Precincts and Regions, Agribio, La Trobe University, 5 Ring Road, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, AustraliaAgriculture Victoria, Department of Jobs Precincts and Regions, Agribio, La Trobe University, 5 Ring Road, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, AustraliaEnvironment Protection Authority Victoria, Centre for Applied Sciences, Ernest Jones Drive, Macleod, Victoria 3085, AustraliaOMNI Animal Health Consultancy, 6/35 McLaren Street, Mount Barker, South Australia 5251, AustraliaAgriculture Victoria, Department of Jobs Precincts and Regions, Agribio, La Trobe University, 5 Ring Road, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, AustraliaAgriculture Victoria, Department of Jobs Precincts and Regions, Agribio, La Trobe University, 5 Ring Road, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, AustraliaOutbreaks of anthrax occur sporadically in Australia and most commonly in the “anthrax belt”, a region which extends from southern Queensland through the centre of New South Wales and into northern Victoria. Little is known about the epidemiological links between <i>Bacillus anthracis</i> isolates taken from different outbreaks and the diversity of strains within Australia. We used multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis employing 25 markers (MLVA25) to genotype 99 <i>B. anthracis</i> isolates from an archival collection of Australian isolates. MLVA25 genotyping revealed eight unique genotypes which clustered within the previously defined A3 genotype of <i>B. anthracis</i>. Genotyping of <i>B. anthracis</i> strains from outbreaks of disease in Victoria identified the presence of multiple genotypes associated with these outbreaks. The geographical distribution of genotypes within Australia suggests that a single genotype was introduced into the eastern states of Australia, followed by the spread and localised differentiation of the pathogen (MLVA25 genotypes MG1-MG6) throughout the anthrax belt. In contrast, unexplained occurrences of disease in areas outside of this anthrax belt which are associated with different genotypes, (MLVA25 genotypes MG7 and MG8) indicate separate introductions of <i>B. anthracis</i> into Australia.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/8/6/886anthrax<i>Bacillus anthracis</i>genotypingMultiple-Locus Variable-Number Tandem Repeat Analysis (MLVA) |
| spellingShingle | Janine Muller Ilhan Mohammad Simone Warner Roger Paskin Fiona Constable Mark Fegan Genetic Diversity of Australian <i>Bacillus anthracis</i> Isolates Revealed by Multiple-Locus Variable-Number Tandem Repeat Analysis Microorganisms anthrax <i>Bacillus anthracis</i> genotyping Multiple-Locus Variable-Number Tandem Repeat Analysis (MLVA) |
| title | Genetic Diversity of Australian <i>Bacillus anthracis</i> Isolates Revealed by Multiple-Locus Variable-Number Tandem Repeat Analysis |
| title_full | Genetic Diversity of Australian <i>Bacillus anthracis</i> Isolates Revealed by Multiple-Locus Variable-Number Tandem Repeat Analysis |
| title_fullStr | Genetic Diversity of Australian <i>Bacillus anthracis</i> Isolates Revealed by Multiple-Locus Variable-Number Tandem Repeat Analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Genetic Diversity of Australian <i>Bacillus anthracis</i> Isolates Revealed by Multiple-Locus Variable-Number Tandem Repeat Analysis |
| title_short | Genetic Diversity of Australian <i>Bacillus anthracis</i> Isolates Revealed by Multiple-Locus Variable-Number Tandem Repeat Analysis |
| title_sort | genetic diversity of australian i bacillus anthracis i isolates revealed by multiple locus variable number tandem repeat analysis |
| topic | anthrax <i>Bacillus anthracis</i> genotyping Multiple-Locus Variable-Number Tandem Repeat Analysis (MLVA) |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/8/6/886 |
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