SGER: Investigation of Antimicrobial Resistance Genes in the Annotation of Bacillus anthracis Genomes

炭疽杆菌是一种对多种抗生素敏感的重要病原菌。然而，奇怪的是，它携带着对许多此类抗生素产生抗药性的基因编码。这项研究将确定炭疽杆菌菌株中哪些被鉴定为青霉素、四环素或大环内酯类抗药性基因的基因实际上编码了抗药性决定因素，并根据验证的数据更正每个基因组注释。将对抗性决定因素上游和下游的DNA序列进行分析，以确定是否存在可移动的遗传元件。这项研究将提高炭疽杆菌基因组注释的质量和有效性，并将调查当生物体暴露于抗菌剂时产生耐药表型的可能性。对基因组注释的所有更正将通过提交到公共数据库向科学界提供。有关基因识别、表达和相关的抗菌药敏感性表型的数据将发表在适当的同行评议期刊上。该项目将提供细菌遗传学、生物信息学和分子实验室技术方面的学生培训。关于生物制剂中抗菌素耐药基因的验证信息对国家生物防御特别重要。在选择广泛分布和大规模治疗的抗菌剂时，必须确认并考虑任何潜在的耐药性。在抗菌素耐药基因或相关DNA序列中检测和验证的任何多样性，对于鉴定和追踪微生物取证用的炭疽杆菌菌株将是极其重要的。

Bacillus anthracis is an important pathogen that is sensative to many antibiotics. Yet it, curiously, carries genetic coding for resistance to many of these antibiotics. This research will determine which of the loci identified as penicillin, tetracycline, or macrolide resistance genes in strains of B. anthracis actually encode a resistance determinant and to correct each genome annotation based on the verified data. DNA sequences upstream and downstream of the resistance determinants will be analyzed to determine if mobile genetic elements are present. This research will improve the quality and usefulness of B. anthracis genome annotations.The potential for developing a resistant phenotype when the organism is exposed to antimicrobial agents will be investigated. All corrections to genome annotations will be made available to the scientific community by submission to public databases. Data on gene identification, expression, and associated antimicrobial susceptibility phenotypes will be published in appropriate peer-reviewed journals.This project will provide student training in bacterial genetics, bioinformatics, and molecular laboratory techniques. Validated information on antimicrobial resistance genes in biothreat agents is of particular importance to national biodefense. Any potential for resistance must be confirmed and taken into consideration when selecting an antimicrobial agent for widespread distribution and mass treatment. Any diversity detected and verified in antimicrobial resistance genes or associated DNA sequences will be extremely important in identifying and tracking B. anthracis strains for microbial forensics.