Journal of Applied Microbiology

Virtual Issue on Biodefence

The Journal of Applied Microbiology publishes full length papers on virtually all aspects of applied microbiology. For some time now, the areas covered have included papers on what might be described as ‘biodefence’. This virtual issue represents typical papers published in the area over the past two years.

Bacteria and viruses both feature with the former, not surprisingly, focussing mainly on Bacillus anthracis and Clostridium botulinum. The small group of papers concerning viruses cover survival of filoviruses, Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever and limits of negative staining electron microscopy for detection of bioterrorism-related microorganisms.

Bacillus anthracis

Detection

An evaluation of commercial DNA extraction kits for the isolation of bacterial spore DNA from soil
S.M. Dineen, R. Aranda IV, D.L. Anders and J.M. Robertson

Detection of low numbers of Bacillus anthracis spores in three soils using five commercial DNA extraction methods with and without an enrichment step
J.S. Gulledge, V.A. Luna, A.J. Luna, R. Zartman and A.C. Cannons

Procurement of spore-free Bacillus anthracis for molecular typing outside of BSL3 environment
D.S. King, V.A. Luna, A.C. Cannons and P.T. Amuso

A simple and sensitive method for detection of Bacillus anthracis by loop-mediated isothermal amplification
Y. Kurosaki, T. Sakuma, A. Fukuma, Y. Fujinami, K. Kawamoto, N. Kamo, S.-I. Makino and J. Yasuda

Phage-mediated bioluminescent detection of Bacillus anthracis
A. Schofield and C. Westwater

Immuno-detection of anthrose containing tetrasaccharide in the exosporium of Bacillus anthracis and Bacillus cereus strains
M. Tamborrini, M.A. Oberli, D.B. Werz, N. Schürch, J. Frey, P.H. Seeberger and G. Pluschke

Spore decon

The resistance of Bacillus atrophaeus spores to the bactericidal activity of peracetic acid is influenced by both the nature of the solid substrates and the mode of contamination
I. Grand, M.-N. Bellon-Fontaine, J.-M. Herry, D. Hilaire, F.-X. Moriconi and M. Naïtali

Dry thermal resistance of Bacillus anthracis (Sterne) spores and spores of other Bacillus species: implications for biological agent destruction via waste incineration
J.P. Wood, P. Lemieux, D. Betancourt, P. Kariher and N.G. Gatchalian

Viruses

The survival of filoviruses in liquids, on solid substrates and in a dynamic aerosol
T.J. Piercy, S.J. Smither, J.A. Steward, L. Eastaugh and M.S. Lever

The feasibility of developing a risk assessment for the impact of climate change on the emergence of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever in livestock in Europe: a Review
P. Gale, A. Estrada-Peña, M. Martinez, R.G. Ulrich, A. Wilson, G. Capelli, P. Phipps, A. De La Torre, M.J. Muñoz, M. Dottori, V. Mioulet and A.R. Fooks

Detection limit of negative staining electron microscopy for the diagnosis of bioterrorism-related micro-organisms
M. Laue and N. Bannert

Botulinum

An assay for botulinum toxin types A, B and F that requires both functional binding and catalytic activities within the neurotoxin
E.R. Evans, P.J.A. Skipper and C.C. Shone

Development of real-time PCR tests for detecting botulinum neurotoxins A, B, E, F producing Clostridium botulinum, Clostridium baratii and Clostridium butyricum
P. Fach, P. Micheau, C. Mazuet, S. Perelle and M. Popoff

Production and characterization of pure Clostridium spore suspensions
W.-W. Yang, E.N. Crow-Willard and A. Ponce

Rapid and simple detection of Clostridium botulinum types A and B by loop-mediated isothermal amplification
T. Sakuma, Y. Kurosaki, Y. Fujinami, T. Takizawa and J. Yasuda

Yersinia pestis

Incorporating time postinoculation into a dose–response model of Yersinia pestis in mice
Y. Huang, T.A. Bartrand, C.N. Haas and M.H. Weir