Unexpected Relations of Historical Anthrax Strain

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Genomics
• Bioforensics

Background:

• A 1998 claim suggested viable Bacillus anthracis spores from a WWI biological weapon remained after 80 years.
• The purported bioweapon was an 80-year-old glass tube with spores in a sugar lump.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the identity and origin of Bacillus anthracis spores claimed to be from a WWI biological weapon.
• To assess the reliability of modern genomic techniques for analyzing historical samples.

Main Methods:

• Isolation of three Bacillus anthracis colonies from the 1998 sample.
• Whole-genome sequencing of the isolated colonies.
• Phylogenetic analysis to determine the strain's origin and relationship to known strains.

Main Results:

• Genome sequencing identified the isolated Bacillus anthracis as a well-known reference strain.
• The reference strain was originally isolated in the United States in 1981.
• Phylogenetic analysis indicated the sample was a modern laboratory contaminant, not an 80-year-old WWI bioweapon.

Conclusions:

• The presumed WWI biological weapon agent was identified as a recent laboratory contaminant.
• Next-generation sequencing and phylogenetic analysis are reliable tools for classifying historical samples.
• Modern genomic techniques can accurately distinguish between ancient samples and modern contaminants.