@article{43a3a31c314b4aaf92e2dee93571e1a2,
title = "The genome sequence of Bacillus anthracis Ames and comparison to closely related bacteria",
abstract = "Bacillus anthracis is an endospore-forming bacterium that causes inhalational anthrax. Key virulence genes are found on plasmids (extra-chromosomal, circular, double-stranded DNA molecules) pXO1 (ref. 2) and pXO2 (ref. 3). To identify additional genes that might contribute to virulence, we analysed the complete sequence of the chromosome of B. anthracis Ames (about 5.23 megabases). We found several chromosomally encoded proteins that may contribute to pathogenicity - including haemolysins, phospholipases and iron acquisition functions - and identified numerous surface proteins that might be important targets for vaccines and drugs. Almost all these putative chromosomal virulence and surface proteins have homologues in Bacillus cereus, highlighting the similarity of B. anthracis to near-neighbours that are not associated with anthrax. By performing a comparative genome hybridization of 19 B. cereus and Bacillus thuringiensis strains against a B. anthracis DNA microarray, we confirmed the general similarity of chromosomal genes among this group of close relatives. However, we found that the gene sequences of pXO1 and pXO2 were more variable between strains, suggesting plasmid mobility in the group. The complete sequence of B. anthracis is a step towards a better understanding of anthrax pathogenesis.",
author = "Read, {Timothy D.} and Peterson, {Scott N.} and Nicolas Tourasse and Baillie, {Les W.} and Paulsen, {Ian T.} and Nelson, {Karen E.} and Herv{\'e} Tettelin and Fouts, {Derrick E.} and Eisen, {Jonathan A.} and Gill, {Steven R.} and Holtzapple, {Erik K.} and {\O}kstad, {Ole Andreas} and Erlendur Helgason and Jennifer Rilstone and Martin Wu and Kolonay, {James F.} and Beanan, {Maureen J.} and Dodson, {Robert J.} and Brinkac, {Lauren M.} and Michelle Gwinn and DeBoy, {Robert T.} and Ramana Madpu and Daugherty, {Sean C.} and Durkin, {A. Scott} and Haft, {Daniel H.} and Nelson, {William C.} and Peterson, {Jeremy D.} and Mihai Pop and Khouri, {Hoda M.} and Diana Radune and Benton, {Jonathan L.} and Yasmin Mahamoud and Lingxia Jiang and Hance, {Ioana R.} and Weidman, {Janice F.} and Berry, {Kristi J.} and Plaut, {Roger D.} and Wolf, {Alex M.} and Watkins, {Kisha L.} and Nierman, {William C.} and Alyson Hazen and Robin Cline and Caroline Redmond and Thwaite, {Joanne E.} and Owen White and Salzberg, {Steven L.} and Brendan Thomason and Friedlander, {Arthur M.} and Koehler, {Theresa M.} and Hanna, {Philip C.} and Kolst{\o}, {Anne Brit} and Fraser, {Claire M.}",
note = "Funding Information: Acknowledgements We thank A.-M. Oswald, J. Lewis and B. Lindner for their reading the manuscript. This research was supported by NSERC (M.J.C., B.D., A.L.), CIHR (L.M., A.L.) and NIH (J.B.). Funding Information: Acknowledgements We acknowledge the contributions of P. Turnbull, E. Saile, Y. Chen, J. Hunter-Cevera, N. McKinney, S. Cendrowski, M. Weiner, A. Fouet, A. Harrison, S. Leppla, M. Mock, C. Moran, G. Myers, G. Patra, J. Ravel, E. Reilly and T. Torok. The B. anthracis chromosome sequence was supported by funding from the Office of Naval Research (ONR), National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID), the Department of Energy and the UK Defence Science Technology Laboratory. Comparative genome hybridization experiments were supported by the ONR. A-B.K, N.T, O.A.O. and E.H were supported by the Norwegian Research Council. The sequencing of B. cereus ATCC 10987 was supported by the NIAID under the Pathogen Functional Genomics Resource Center contract, and the ONR.",
year = "2003",
doi = "10.1038/nature01586",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "423",
pages = "81--86",
journal = "Nature",
issn = "0028-0836",
publisher = "Nature Publishing Group",
number = "6935",
}