Characterization of the variable-number tandem repeats in vrrA from different Bacillus anthracis isolates

Jackson, Paul J. and Walthers, Eliza A. and Kalif, Abdullahi S. and Richmond, Kara L. and Adair, Debra M. and Hill, Karen K. and Kuske, Cheryl R. and Andersen, Gary L. and Wilson, Kenneth H. and Hugh-Jones, Martin and Keim, Paul (1997) Characterization of the variable-number tandem repeats in vrrA from different Bacillus anthracis isolates. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 63 (4). pp. 1400-1405. ISSN 1098-5336

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Abstract

PCR analysis of 198 Bacillus anthracis isolates revealed a variable region of DNA sequence differing in length among the isolates. Five polymorphisms differed by the presence of two to six copies of the 12-bp tandem repeat 5'-CAATATCAACAA-3'. This variable-number tandem repeat (VNTR) region is located within a larger sequence containing one complete open reading frame that encodes a putative 30-kDa protein. Length variation did not change the reading frame of the encoded protein and only changed the copy number of a 4-amino-acid sequence (QYQQ) from 2 to 6. The structure of the VNTR region suggests that these multiple repeats are generated by recombination or polymerase slippage. Protein structures predicted from the reverse-translated DNA sequence suggest that any structural changes in the encoded protein are confined to the region encoded by the VNTR sequence. Copy number differences in the VNTR region were used to define five different B. anthracis alleles. Characterization of 198 isolates revealed allele frequencies of 6.1, 17.7, 59.6, 5.6, and 11.1% sequentially from shorter to longer alleles. The high degree of polymorphism in the VNTR region provides a criterion for assigning isolates to five allelic categories. There is a correlation between categories and geographic distribution. Such molecular markers can be used to monitor the epidemiology of anthrax outbreaks in domestic and native herbivore populations.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	Bacillus anthracis; Base Sequence; cereus; DNA, Bacterial; Genes, Bacterial; Genome, Bacterial; Molecular Sequence Data; nucleotide-sequence; PCR; plasmid; Proteins; Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid; RNA; secondary-structure; Sequence Analysis, DNA; virulence
Subjects:	Q Science > QH Natural history > QH426 Genetics Q Science > QR Microbiology
NAU Depositing Author Academic Status:	Faculty/Staff
Department/Unit:	College of Engineering, Forestry, and Natural Science > Biological Sciences
Date Deposited:	30 Sep 2015 16:19
URI:	http://openknowledge.nau.edu/id/eprint/349

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