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Opsono-Adherence Assay to Evaluate Functional Antibodies in Vaccine Development Against Bacillus anthracis and Other Encapsulated Pathogens
Published on: May 19, 2020
Genome sequence of Bacillus anthracis typing phage AP631
Xiankai Liu1, Dongshu Wang1, Chao Pan1
1State Key Laboratory of Pathogens and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, 20 Dongdajie Street, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100071, China.
Abstract:
AP631, a virulent bacteriophage of Bacillus anthracis, is widely used in China to identify anthrax bacteria. In this study, we report the complete AP631 phage genome sequence as well as comparative genomic analysis with other bacteriophages of B. cereus and related species. The double-stranded circular DNA genome of phage AP631 was 39,549 bp in length with 35.01% G + C content. The phage genome contained 56 putative protein-coding genes but no rRNA or tRNA genes. Comparative phylogenetic analysis of the phage major capsid proteins and terminase large subunits showed that phage AP631 belongs to the B. cereus sensu lato phage clade II. Comparative genomic analysis revealed a high degree of sequence similarity between phage AP631 and B. anthracis phages Wbeta, Gamma, Cherry, and Fah, as well as three AP631-specific genes bearing no significant similarity to those of other phages.
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