Under the microscope: Bacillus anthracis, a story of nature subverted by man

Abstract

Bacillus anthracis is a pathogen of animals which rarely infects humans. Its use as a bioweapon has stimulated efforts to develop genetic typing methods and therapeutics to respond to an attack. Of particular concern is the transfer of virulence genes from B. anthracis to other closely related strains of bacillus. © 2005 The Society for Applied Microbiology.