SPADA

Background

Johnson, S.L., Daligault, H.E., Davenport, K.W., Jaissle, J., Grey, K.G., Ladner, J.T.,

Broomall, S.M., Bishop-Lilly, K.A., Bruce, D.C., Gibbons, H.S., Coyne, S.R., Lo, C.-

C., Meincke, Ll, Munk, A.C., Koroleva, G.I., Rosenzweig, C.N., Palacios, f., Redden,

C L Minogue T D and Chain PS (2015)

. .,

, . .

Complete Genome Sequences of 35 Biothreat Assay-Relevant

Bacillus

Species.

Genome Announc.

e00151-15.

ABSTRACT

In 2011, the Association of Analytical Communities (AOAC)

International released a list of

Bacillus

strains relevant to biothreat molecular

detection assays. We present the complete and annotated genome

assemblies of the 15 strains listed on the inclusivity panel, as well as the 20

strains listed on the exclusivity panel.

Background

•

Given full genome sequences for all members of the Inclusivity and Exclusivity panels, anyone designing

assays using DNA sequences can use

in silico

methods to select sequences to target with their assays that

are specific to

B. anthracis

, based on signatures found only in genomes of isolates in the Inclusivity panel but

absent from genomes of organisms in the Exclusivity panel.

•

It will be straightforward to demonstrate that the assays were designed in such a manner and,

in silico

“testing” will quickly demonstrate whether the targeted sequences – or sets of sequences – are specific to

the target.

Isolates developed using such methods must still be tested against the inclusivity, exclusivity and environmental

factors panels to validate the assays because the DNA databases used to develop such assays are still

incomplete and do not represent the breadth of isolates found in the environment.