The secret life of the anthrax agent Bacillus anthracis: bacteriophage-mediated ecological adaptations.

ABSTRACT: Ecological and genetic factors that govern the occurrence and persistence of anthrax reservoirs in the environment are obscure. A central tenet, based on limited and often conflicting studies, has long held that growing or vegetative forms of Bacillus anthracis survive poorly outside the mammalian host and must sporulate to survive in the environment. Here, we present evidence of a more dynamic lifecycle, whereby interactions with bacterial viruses, or bacteriophages, elicit phenotypic alterations in B. anthracis and the emergence of infected derivatives, or lysogens, with dramatically altered survival capabilities. Using both laboratory and environmental B. anthracis strains, we show that lysogeny can block or promote sporulation depending on the phage, induce exopolysaccharide expression

SUBMITTER: Schuch R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2716549 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature