Bacillus anthracis is the bacteria that causes anthrax. It forms spores that allow it to survive for over 1000 years in dormancy. There are three types of anthrax infections - cutaneous, inhalation, and gastrointestinal. Anthrax spores were used in a bioterrorism attack in 2001 in the United States involving letters sent through the postal service. Vaccination of US military members against anthrax was mandated in 1999 and caused some controversy over personal rights to refuse vaccination.

1. Bacillus anthracis: Not a very “human friendly” bacteria. Presented by Melissa Torres Friday, February 13 th 2009 BIO 155

2. Bacillus anthracis Scientific Classification Domain: Eubacteria Phylum: Firmicutes Class: Bacilli Order: Bacillales Family: Bacillaceae Genus: Bacillus Species: B. anthracis http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacteria

3. Characteristics of B. anthracis Low GC Gram-positives Thick peptidoglycan coated cell walls Also surrounded by a spore coat Low toxigenicity Highly invasive Produces endospores Dormancy can last more than a thousand years

4. What is Anthrax? The three types of anthrax: Skin (cutaneous) Lungs (inhalation) Digestive (gastrointestinal) Anthrax is not known to spread from person to person

5. Anthrax as a weapon Bioterrorism 2001 United States Postal Service Biological Warfare Vaccination of U.S. military members 1999 controversy over rights to refuse the vaccine

6. References Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Anthrax: What you need to know. Last updated July 31, 2003. Retrieved January 30 , 2009 from http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/anthrax/needtoknow.asp Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2005) MMWR: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. CDC: Atlanta, Georgia, v.49, No.RR-15. Retrieved January 30, 2009 from http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/rr/rr4915.pdf Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Public Health Image Library (PHIL) . Last reviewed March 18, 2005. Retrieved images February 12, 2009 from http://phil.cdc.gov/Phil/quicksearch.asp Sadava, D., et al. (2008). Bacteria and Archae: The Prokaryotic Domains. Life: The Science of Biology , 8 th ed.; Sinauer Associates: USA, pp573-579 Todar, K.. Bacillus anthracis and Anthrax. Copyright 2009. Retrieved January 30, 2009 from http://textbookofbacteriology.net/Anthrax.html