Bacillus cereus biovar anthracis causes inhalational anthrax-like disease in rabbits that is treatable with medical countermeasures.

ABSTRACT: Bacillus anthracis is a zoonotic organism that causes the disease anthrax due to the activity of virulence factors harbored on plasmids pXO1 and pXO2. Inhalation of B. anthracis spores results in pneumonic disease that progresses quickly, and often results in lethality in the absence of medical countermeasure (MCM) intervention. Recently, reports have identified Bacillus cereus isolates that possess pXO1 and pXO2-like plasmids and cause an anthrax-like disease. These isolates have been named B. cereus biovar anthracis, or Bcbva. To evaluate disease course of Bcbva, the inhalational median lethal dose (INHLD50) was determined for two isolates, Bcbva Cameroon (CA) and Bcbva Cote d'Ivoire (CI), using the New Zealand white (NZW) rabbit inhalation anthrax model and compared to established B. an

SUBMITTER: Ferris AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12005533 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature