<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<oai_dc:dc xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:oai_dc="http://www.openarchives.org/OAI/2.0/oai_dc/" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.openarchives.org/OAI/2.0/oai_dc/ http://www.openarchives.org/OAI/2.0/oai_dc.xsd">
  <dc:contributor>Ayesha Hassim</dc:contributor>
  <dc:contributor>Tendo Mafuna</dc:contributor>
  <dc:contributor>Wendy Christine Turner</dc:contributor>
  <dc:contributor>Henriette van Heerden</dc:contributor>
  <dc:contributor>Kgaugelo E. Lekota</dc:contributor>
  <dc:creator>Sankwetea P. Mokgokong</dc:creator>
  <dc:date>2025</dc:date>
  <dc:description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;Bacillus anthracis&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span&gt;, the causative agent of anthrax, is composed of three genetic clades (A, B, and C). Clade-A is the most common and distributed worldwide, B-clade has a narrow geographic distribution, and C-clade is rare. South Africa's Kruger National Park (KNP) has high diversity of&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;B. anthracis&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span&gt;, with strains from A and B clades described from its northernmost region, Pafuri. We employed whole genome sequencing to investigate the genomic diversity of&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;B. anthracis&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp;strains isolated from animal carcasses (&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;n&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp;=&amp;nbsp;34) during the 2012–2015 outbreaks. Whole-genome single-nucleotide polymorphism (wgSNP) analysis assigned the 2012–2015&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;B. anthracis&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp;genomes to the A-clade branch, distributed across the branch's two minor sub-clades A.Br.005/006. Additionally, pan-genomic analysis distinguished the A- and B-clade genomes, identifying unique accessory genes. Notable genetic differences include the biosynthetic spore cell wall genes; long-chain fatty acid CoA ligases (&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;FaD13&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span&gt;),&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;Bacillus&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp;collagen-like protein of&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;anthracis&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp;(BclA) involved in the exosporium germination, as well as a truncated murein DD-endopeptidase (&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;mepH&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span&gt;) found in the pXO2 plasmid of the B-clade strains. The tryptophan synthase subunit alpha gene (&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;trpA&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span&gt;), which results in a pseudogene in B-clade genomes separates the A- and B-clade genomes. These differences in biosynthetic cell wall genes suggest variation in adaptability or cell growth of the B-clade strains in the environment, further influenced by the truncation of the&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;trpA&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp;gene involved in spore germination. The A.Br.005/006-clade strains in KNP exhibit higher genetic diversity, which may enhance their resilience to environmental stressors. In contrast, the KNP B-clade (B.Br.001/002) strains show limited genetic variation, potentially reducing their adaptability. This pattern is evident through whole-genome SNP analysis and pan-genomics investigating the evolution of&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;B. anthracis&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span&gt;.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</dc:description>
  <dc:format>application/pdf</dc:format>
  <dc:identifier>10.1016/j.ygeno.2025.111074</dc:identifier>
  <dc:language>en</dc:language>
  <dc:publisher>Elsevier</dc:publisher>
  <dc:title>Comparative genomics of Bacillus anthracis A and B-clades reveals genetic variation in genes responsible for spore germination</dc:title>
  <dc:type>article</dc:type>
</oai_dc:dc>