Bacillus anthracis

Abstract

Bacillus anthracis is an etiological agent of anthrax, a disease very dangerous to humans and many animal species. The spore forms are markedly resistant to environmental extremes of heat, cold, desiccation, chemicals, irradiation etc. Within the infected organisms the spores germinate to produce the vegetative forms which produce toxins. The capsule and toxin complex are virulence factors of B. anthracis. The toxin complex consists of three proteins Protective Antigen (PA, 83 kDa), Lethal Factor (LF, 87 kDa), and Edema Factor (EF, 89 kDa). Identification of B. anthracis is based on microscopy, colonial morphology, sensitivity to penicillin and gamma phage, biochemical tests and conformation of the presence of virulence factors gene by PCR techniques. The methods of treatment and prophylaxis of anthrax in humans have been discussed.