Insights from Bacillus anthracis strains isolated from permafrost in the tundra zone of Russia

Abstract

This article describes Bacillus anthracis strains isolated during an outbreak of anthrax on the Yamal Peninsula in the summer of 2016 and independently in Yakutia in 2015. A common feature of these strains is their conservation in permafrost, from which they were extracted either due to the thawing of permafrost (Yamal strains) or as the result of paleontological excavations (Yakut strains). All strains isolated on the Yamal share an identical genotype belonging to lineage B.Br.001/002, pointing to a common source of infection in a territory over 250 km in length. In contrast, during the excavations in Yakutia, three genetically different strains were recovered from a single pit. One strain belongs to B.Br.001/002, and whole genome sequence analysis showed that it is most closely related to the Yamal strains in spite of the remoteness of Yamal from Yakutia. The two other strains contribute to two different branches of A.Br.008/011, one of the remarkable polytomies described so far in the B . anthracis species. The geographic distribution of the strains belonging to A.Br.008/011 is suggesting that the polytomy emerged in the thirteenth century, in combination with the constitution of a unified Mongol empire extending from China to Eastern Europe. We propose an evolutionary model for B . anthracis recent evolution in which the B lineage spread throughout Eurasia and was subsequently replaced by the A lineage except in some geographically isolated areas.

Genetic characterization of Bacillus anthracis strains circulating in Italy from 1972 to 2018

“…The presence of strains belonging to sublineages A.Br.008/011 and A.Br.011/009 might represent an effect of evolution on a common ancestral strain at the territorial level. In particular, A.Br.008/011 represents a rare and deep branching sublineage, also observed in Bulgaria, France and Turkey [29]. The spread of the TEA group to Europe and Asia is postulated to be linked to animal handling along the ancient East-West commercial routes of the Silk Road [30].…”

A One-Health lens for anthrax

“…6 For example, in 2016, in Yamal autonomous region, Russia, there was an anthrax outbreak among migratory Nenet indigenous peoples. 9 This outbreak resulted from thawing and exposure of old anthrax burial sites, in unprecedented hot weather, leading to a reindeer anthrax outbreak. Rapid prophylaxis and control measures were able to prevent spread to humans.…”

Epidemiological and Epizootological Situation on Anthrax in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)

“…Èñõîäÿ èç ýòîãî, ìîaeíî ïðåäïîëîaeèòü, ÷òî ñïîðû îñòàâàëèñü aeèçíåñïîñîáíûìè â ìåðçëîòíîé ïî÷âå íå ìåíåå 75 ëåò. Âîçíèêíîâåíèþ èíôåêöèîííîé áîëåçíè â ßìàëå â 2016 ã. ñïîñîáñòâîâàëà îòìåíà âàêöèíàöèè îëåíåé â 2007 ã. â âèäó ïðèçíàíèÿ â 1968 ã. ýòîé òåððèòîðèè ñâîáîäíîé îò ñèáèðñêîé ÿçâû [14,18] [14]. Ïî ðåçóëüòàòàì íàøèõ èññëåäîâàíèé â Àáûéñêîì ðàéîíå ßêóòèè íåò çàôèêñèðîâàííûõ äàííûõ î íàëè÷èè íåáëàãîïîëó÷íûõ ïóíêòîâ, ÷òî ñâèäåòåëüñòâóåò îá åùå íåäîñòàòî÷íîì èíôîðìèðîâàííîñòè î ýïèçî-îòè÷åñêîé è ýïèäåìèîëîãè÷åñêîé ñèòóàöèè.…”