Fine-scale differentiation between Bacillus anthracis and Bacillus cereus group signatures in metagenome shotgun data.

ABSTRACT:

Background

It is possible to detect bacterial species in shotgun metagenome datasets through the presence of only a few sequence reads. However, false positive results can arise, as was the case in the initial findings of a recent New York City subway metagenome project. False positives are especially likely when two closely related are present in the same sample. Bacillus anthracis, the etiologic agent of anthrax, is a high-consequence pathogen that shares >99% average nucleotide identity with Bacillus cereus group (BCerG) genomes. Our goal was to create an analysis tool that used k-mers to detect B. anthracis, incorporating information about the coverage of BCerG in the metagenome sample.

Methods

Using public complete genome sequence datasets, we ident

SUBMITTER: Petit Iii RA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6109372 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature