lnactivation and identification of Bacillus anthracis spores

Abstract

Bacillus anthracis endospores must be handled ata biosafety level-3 (BSL-3} eontainment facility, therefore an appropriate inaetivation procedure is essential in order to both detect thcm in a reliable and rapid way and to avoid human infections from antrax-contamined samples if a biosafety level-3 laboratory is not availablc. Unfortunatcly, donnant spores exhibit incredible hardiness against gennicidal agents. The most effective methods for inactivating spores are usually the chemical treatment, heat inactivation (boiling, moist hcat, dry heat) and irTadiation (microwave, UV, gamma, electron beam). The inactivation method used must alter thc cell structure as little as possible in order to ensure a corree! diagnosis by diferent techniques. Several kinds ofphysical and chemical inactivation methods wcrc assessed in order to define the conditions that ensure inactivation of endospores of B. anthracis 34F2 Sterné and pcrmit, at the same time, its identification by PCR and immunoassays techniques.