Phylogeography of Bacillus anthracis in the country of Georgia shows evidence of population structuring and is dissimilar to other regional genotypes

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 9; no. 7; p. e102651
• Main Authors: Khmaladze, Ekaterine, Birdsell, Dawn N, Naumann, Amber A, Hochhalter, Christian B, Seymour, Meagan L, Nottingham, Roxanne, Beckstrom-Sternberg, Stephen M, Beckstrom-Sternberg, James, Nikolich, Mikeljon P, Chanturia, Gvantsa, Zhgenti, Ekaterine, Zakalashvili, Mariam, Malania, Lile, Babuadze, Giorgi, Tsertsvadze, Nikoloz, Abazashvili, Natalia, Kekelidze, Merab, Tsanava, Shota, Imnadze, Paata, Ganz, Holly H, Getz, Wayne M, Pearson, Ofori, Gajer, Pawel, Eppinger, Mark, Ravel, Jacques, Wagner, David M, Okinaka, Richard T, Schupp, James M, Keim, Paul, Pearson, Talima
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 21-07-2014; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Anthrax - microbiology; Bacillus anthracis; Bacillus anthracis - genetics; Biology and Life Sciences; Disease control; Dispersal; Dispersion; Ecological monitoring; Environmental science; Epidemiology; Genetics; Genomes; Genomics; Genotypes; Georgia; Humans; Laboratories; Medical screening; Phylogenetics; Phylogeny; Phylogeography; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Public health; Regional analysis; Georgia; Tbilisi Georgia (country); United States > US; Europe; Georgia (country); California; Maryland; Baltimore Maryland; Arizona
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0102651

Sequence analyses and subtyping of Bacillus anthracis strains from Georgia reveal a single distinct lineage (Aust94) that is ecologically established. Phylogeographic analysis and comparisons to a global collection reveals a clade that is mostly restricted to Georgia. Within this clade, many groups are found around the country, however at least one subclade is only found in the eastern part. This pattern suggests that dispersal into and out of Georgia has been rare and despite historical dispersion within the country, for at least for one lineage, current spread is limited.