Keim P, Smith K L
Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011-5640, USA.
Curr Top Microbiol Immunol. 2002;271:21-32. doi: 10.1007/978-3-662-05767-4_2.
Bacillus anthracis is a pathogen that is widely distributed around the globe. However, this great distribution is not accompanied by great genetic diversity. Although subtle morphological and biochemical differences exist, the underlying genetic basis for this plasticity is not known. Indeed, very few single nucleotide differences have been detected among isolates and the only documented high variable sequences are associated with variable number tandem repeated (VNTR) sequences. The differences among the VNTRs has been used to suggest phylogenetic relationships among the worldwide isolates. There is one major clonal split in B. anthracis (A and B), with two minor clusters established within the B branch and four or more minor branches within the A group. The A branch is the most common worldwide, though the B branch is locally important in certain areas. The ecology and the evolution of B. anthracis have been greatly influenced by the spore phase of the lifecycle.
炭疽芽孢杆菌是一种在全球广泛分布的病原体。然而，这种广泛的分布并没有伴随着高度的遗传多样性。尽管存在细微的形态和生化差异，但这种可塑性的潜在遗传基础尚不清楚。事实上，在分离株中检测到的单核苷酸差异非常少，唯一记录的高可变序列与可变数目串联重复（VNTR）序列相关。VNTR之间的差异已被用于推断全球分离株之间的系统发育关系。炭疽芽孢杆菌存在一个主要的克隆分支（A和B），在B分支内有两个小簇，在A组内有四个或更多小分支。A分支在全球最为常见，不过B分支在某些地区具有局部重要性。炭疽芽孢杆菌的生态学和进化受到生命周期中孢子阶段的极大影响。
