SGER: Investigation of Antimicrobial Resistance Genes in the Annotation of Bacillus Anthracis Genomens

正在通过机构间转移向疾病控制和预防中心提供资金，用于一个关于炭疽芽孢杆菌基因组中抗生素耐药性和抗生素基因注释的新项目。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，它携带着对许多同样的抗生素产生抗药性的基因编码。通过实验室实验，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座实际上编码了抗药性决定因素；错误的注释将根据验证的数据进行更正。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。本研究将提高炭疽杆菌基因组注释的质量和实用性。当微生物暴露在抗菌剂中时，也将调查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。在选择广泛分布和对公众进行大规模治疗的抗菌剂时，必须确认并考虑到任何潜在的耐药性。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，对于微生物取证鉴定和追踪炭疽杆菌菌株将是极其重要的。

Funds are being provided to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention via an interagency transfer for a new project on antibiotic resistance and antibiotic gene annotation in the Bacillus anthracis genome. Bacillus anthracis is an important pathogen that is sensitive to many antibiotics. Yet it, curiously, carries genetic coding for resistance to many of these same antibiotics. Through laboratory experiments, 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; the incorrect annotations will be corrected 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 also 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 be providing 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 for mass treatment of the public. Any diversity detected and verified in the antimicrobial resistance genes or in the associated DNA sequences will be extremely important in identifying and tracking B. anthracis strains for microbial forensics.