• Design and Application of a PCR Assay to Detect of Bacillus anthracis
  • Faezeh Houmansadr,1,* Mohammad Soleimani,2 Keivan Majidzadeh,3
    1. Department of Biology Cellular and Molecular, Science and Research branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
    2. Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, AJA University of medical sciences, Tehran, Iran
    3. Tasnim Biotechnology Research Center (TBRC), Faculty of Medicine, AJA University of medical sciences, Tehran, Iran


  • Introduction: Anthrax is a disease caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis. Anthrax is currently considered one of the most serious bioterrorism threats. In the second half of the 20th Century, several countries used B. anthracis in their biological weapons (BW) programs, and autonomous groups have also demonstrated the intent to use the bacterium in acts of terrorism. The purpose of the present work was to design of a PCR assay to detect pXO2 which involved in the synthesis of polyglutamyl capsule (Cap) gene as a protective gene for anthrax.
  • Methods: The specific primers were designed based on the sequence of the Cap gene of B. anthracis. Analytical sensitivity and specificity of the Cap-PCR were evaluated.
  • Results: The results demonstrated that the primers against Cap gene amplified a 235 bp fragment. The PCR assay was highly specific and no amplification were observed from the non- B. anthracis organisms.
  • Conclusion: The results indicate that the developed Cap-PCR is a sensitive and practical method for detecting B. anthracis.
  • Keywords: Bacillus anthracis, Anthrax, PCR, Cap, pXO2