<div style="text-align: justify;">Background: Bacillus anthracis causes anthrax disease in livestock and occasionally in humans mainly through three toxic proteins: protective antigen, lethal factor and edema factor. Synthesis of the toxic proteins in bacteria and its pathogenic role in the human host is well known. But, how these toxins are secreted from bacterium to the host or in the culture medium is not known.&nbsp; Methods: A group of researchers have shown (through in silico prediction) that several genes of B. anthracis have similarity with the genes which codes the subunit of the Type IV Secretion System (T4SS) known in other bacteria. In this study, we have tried to explore the existence of T4SS in B. anthracis using molecular biology tools.&nbsp; Result: As an initial lead, three genes (GBAA-pXO1-0064, GBAA-pXO1-0085VirB11 and Bas3783) of B. anthracis T4SS (out of more than 10) were cloned and expressed in E. coli. Among them, gene Bas3783 (VirD4 homolog) is genome encoded therefore; it is sequenced and further characterized for its DNA binding activity and oligomerization. Results obtained from this study indicated the existence of T4SS in B. anthracis.</div>

<div style="text-align: justify;">Characterization of Putative Type IV Secretion System of Bacillus anthracis</div>

The present study investigated the level of Bacillus anthracis (B. anthracis) spores contamination in the soil, as well as in small ruminant&rsquo;s wool/hair in Tharparkar, Pakistan. A total of 160 samples, including soil (n= 80), sheep wool (n= 40) and goat hair (n= 40) were collected from different areas of Tharparkar. Results showed that almost 33.75% samples were found positive for B. anthracis spores from soil, wool and hair; among those 66.25% were from outbreak area, having significantly higher (P &lt; 0.001) incidence than normal areas. Moreover, the soil samples exhibited higher positive prevalence (P &lt; 0.001) than &nbsp;wool, which also had significantly higher (P &lt; 0.001) than hair samples. The samples taken from Mithi area exhibited higher (P&lt; 0.001) prevalence of B. anthracis, followed by Chachro, Diplo and Nangar Parkar (60.00, 30.00, 25.00 and 20.00%, respectively). The differences in area-wise prevalence were also significant ((P &lt; 0.05). The highest prevalence of B. anthracis spores was recorded in open area, followed by in earthen boundaries, and in confined houses (46.42, 30.76 and 23.00%, respectively). These results indicated that soil is a main source of B. anthracis spores, moreover, sheep wool harbor more spores than goat hair.&nbsp;

Characterization of Putative Type IV Secretion System of Bacillus anthracis

Prevalence of Bacillus anthracis spores in wool, hairs and habitat of small ruminants