Bacillus

Question 1

Describe Bacillus species - gram, spores?

Answer 1

gram positive
spore forming
non-bulging

Question 2

where are Bacillus species found?

Answer 2

soils, decaying organic material, water, human microbiota

Question 3

what Bacillus species is responsible for anthrax and is nonmotile?

Answer 3

B. anthracis

Question 4

what Bacillus species causes sporadic abortions in sheep/cattle?

Answer 4

B. licheniformis

Question 5

what Bacillus group is Bacillus anthracis in?

Answer 5

Bacillus cereus sensu lato group

Question 6

what is the infectious agent in Bacillus anthracis? how long is is it viable?

Answer 6

spores and viable for years

Question 7

What must be done since Bacillus anthracis is a CDC category A priority pathogen?

Answer 7

report if you have suspected or confirmed infection

Question 8

What is Sap in the S-layer of Bacillus anthracis?

Answer 8

primary protein during exponential growth

Question 9

what is EA1 in the S-layer of Bacillus anthracis?

Answer 9

replaces Sap as cell enters stationary growth phase - strong target for vaccines

Question 10

Are all B. anthracis strains virulent in humans?

Answer 10

no

Question 11

what is the significance of pXO1 in B. anthracis?

Answer 11

extrachromosomal plasmid carrying lethal factor (LF), edema factor (EF), and protective antigen (PA)

Question 12

Can LF cause disease on its own? How does it cause disease?

Answer 12

no it need PA
LF + PA -> lethal toxin
cleaves host cell MAP kinase proteins

Question 13

Can EF cause disease on its own? How does it cause disease?

Answer 13

no it needs PA
EF + PA -> edema toxin
inc cAMP levels in host cell > swelling and edema (imbalance of ions)

Question 14

what is the significance of pXO2 in B. anthracis?

Answer 14

encodes for capsule production (inhibits phagocytosis)
capBCDAE operon encodes genes necessary for poly-y-D glutamic acid capsule

Question 15

what population is anthrax a primary disease of?

Answer 15

herbivores

Question 16

what are the routes of infection of B. anthracis?

Answer 16

inoculation
ingestion
inhalation - NOT PENUMONIA

Question 17

How do cattle, sheep, and goats present when infected with B. anthracis?

Answer 17

peracute - extremely rapid progression, illness often not observed b/c so rapid

Question 18

what helps indicate this cow was infected with B. anthracis?

Answer 18

Question 19

How do horses present when infected with B. anthracis?

Answer 19

Question 20

Which animal once infected with B. anthracis die first - cow or horse?

Answer 20

cow

Question 21

How does a pig infected with B. anthracis present?

Answer 21

sudden death, oropharyngitis, or mild, chronic form

Question 22

what is oropharyngeal anthrax characterized by?

Answer 22

rapidly progressive swelling of throat

Question 23

What should you not do with the carcass when onsite of a B. anthracis case?

Answer 23

do not open carcass - promotes endospore formation

Question 24

what sites do B. anthracis cases usually have unclotted blood from post morteum?

Answer 24

mouth, nose, anus, vulva

Question 25

How is B. anthracis diagnosed?

Answer 25

sample sources with PPE y-phage lysis M'Fadyean stain (polychrome methylene blue) BaDxx - growth chamber and later flow detection Tetraacore Redline Alert - lateral flow detection

Question 26

why is y-phage lysis useful in diagnosing B. anthracis?

Answer 26

y-phage is specific to B. anthracis (and handful of B. cerus isolates)

Question 27

Are bacterial strain static?

Answer 27

no

Question 28

Since B. cereus has been shown to be naturally competent in some conditions what does it suggest about B. anthracis?

Answer 28

would also be competent

Question 29

what other Bacillus species can cause anthrax? How?

Answer 29

Question 30

How is anthrax prevented?

Answer 30

vaccination of animals - live culture of strain with no pXO2

Question 31

How are infected carcasses infected with anthrax handeled?

Answer 31

incinerate carcasses and burn soil during incineration

Question 32

How are animals treated that are infected with anthrax?

Answer 32

penicillin G or oxytetracycline

Question 33

How are humans treated that are exposed to anthrax if inhalation anthrax is possible?

Answer 33

doxycycline and ciprofloxacin for 60 days latency in spore germination requires lengthy abx course

Question 34

what are the antibodies that treat humans infected with anthrax? what are they antibodies to?

Answer 34

Obiltoxaximab and Raxibacumab - monoclonal antibodies to PA

Question 35

Based on the spore location what is each bacteria?

Answer 35