Use of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in theplcRGene for Specific Identification ofBacillus anthracis

Abstract
A TaqMan-minor groove binding assay designed around a nonsense mutation in theplcRgene was used to genotypeBacillus anthracis,B. cereus, andB. thuringiensisisolates. The assay differentiatedB. anthracisfrom these genetic near-neighbors and determined that the nonsense mutation is ubiquitous across 89 globally and genetically diverseB. anthracisstrains.