Identification of Bacillus anthracis by a simple protective antigen-specific mAb dot-ELISA

A simple protective antigen (PA)-reactive mAb dot-ELISA was standardized for confirmation of toxin-producing strains of Bacillus anthracis. Twenty-seven clinical isolates were collected from patients clinically suspected of having anthrax. PA was elaborated from these isolates using Casamino acids medium and the culture medium was boiled to kill the cells. PA in boiled culture supernatants was detected using a dot-ELISA. Of the 27 clinical isolates tested, PA was detected in 24 isolates. This was further confirmed by amplifying the PA gene by PCR. This testing procedure is simple to perform, specific and safer than existing procedures, which are added advantages over existing methods of identification of B. anthracis. This test system could be a valuable tool in confirming clinical and environmental isolates of B. anthracis.