Population genomics of <i>Bacillus anthracis</i> from an anthrax hyperendemic area reveals transmission processes across spatial scales and unexpected within-host diversity.

ABSTRACT: Genomic sequencing has revolutionized our understanding of bacterial disease epidemiology, but remains underutilized for zoonotic pathogens in remote endemic settings. Anthrax, caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis, remains a threat to human and animal health and rural livelihoods in low- and middle-income countries. While the global genomic diversity of B. anthracis has been well-characterized, there is limited information on how its populations are genetically structured at the scale at which transmission occurs, critical for understanding the pathogen's evolution and transmission dynamics. Using a uniquely rich dataset, we quantified genome-wide SNPs among 73 B. anthracis isolates derived from 33 livestock carcasses sampled over 1 year throughout

SUBMITTER: Forde TL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8942019 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature