Differentiation of Bacillus anthracis and other Bacillus cereus group bacterial strains using multilocus sequence typing method

The study describes the preparation of the phylogenetic differentiation of Bacillus cereus strains. The Bacillus cereus group of bacteria is very important for human and animal health. The multilocus sequence typing scheme has been used to present this group of bacteria’s phylogenetic relationship and structure. The MLST system was established using 60 isolates of B. anthracis, B. cereus sensu stricto, B. thuringiensis, and transitional environment strains of Bacillus spp. As a negative control, five strains of B. subtilis and B. megaterium were used. Primers for amplification and sequencing were designed to target highly conserved internal fragment of seven housekeeping genes: glpF, gmk, ilvD, pta, pur, pycA, and tpi. A total of 22 different sequence types (STs) were distinguished. Analysis of the sequence data showed that all of the Bacillus cereus strains are very closely related. The MLST scheme exhibited a high level of resolution that can be used as an excellent tool for studying the phylogenetic relationship, epidemiology, and population structure of the Bacillus cereus group strains. The MLST method additionally allows us to define the phylogenetic relationship between very closely related strains based on a combination of the sequences of all seven alleles fragments and each of them separately. Thus, this genetic investigation tool is very useful in epidemiological investigation of potential military/ bioterrorist use of B. anthracis

Methods of biological samples field analysis

With the financial support of Internal Security Fund Police Programme European Commission Directorate General Home Affairs. This project has been founded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the authors, and European Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein

Methods of sampling

With the financial support of Internal Security Fund Police Programme European Commission Directorate General Home Affairs. This project has been founded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the authors, and European Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein

Organisation of the biological sampling process

With the financial support of Internal Security Fund Police Programme European Commission Directorate General Home Affairs. This project has been founded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the authors, and European Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein

Diversity of influenza-like illness etiology in Polish Armed Forces in influenza epidemic season

The aim of this study was to conduct an epidemiological and laboratory surveillance of Influenza-Like Illnesses (ILI) in Polish Armed Forces, civilian military personnel and their families in 2011/2012 epidemic season, under the United States Department of Defense-Global Emerging Infections Surveillance and Response System (DoD-GEIS). ILI incidence data were analyzed in relation to age, gender, patient category as well as pathogen patterns. Multiple viral, bacterial and viral-bacterial co-infections were identified. Nose and throat swabs of active duty soldiers in the homeland country and in the NATO peacekeeping forces KFOR (Kosovo Force), as well as members of their families were tested for the presence of viral and bacterial pathogens. From October 2011 to May 2012, 416 specimens from ILI symptoms patients were collected and analyzed for the presence of viral and bacterial pathogens. Among viruses, coronavirus was the most commonly detected. In the case of bacterial infections, the most common pathogen was Staphylococcus aureus