Demonstration of Deoxyribonuclease Activity for Bacillus anthracis and its Comparison with other DNAse Producing Bacteria

Abstract

Anthrax is an often fatal, bacterial infection affecting various animal species which also has serious impact on human health. Major virulence factors produced by different strains of Bacillus anthracis include polyglutamic acid capsule and three-component toxin. Nevertheless, involvement of other pathological features cannot be overruled. Therefore, the present study was planned to determine, production of extracellular DNAse by B. anthracis for the first time and was compared with other principal bacterial species that have already been reported to produce the extracellular DNAse. Two distinct DNAse activity assays namely plate and tube assays were used to demonstrate DNAse activity. The B. anthracis strains used in the study showed DNAse production in both the assays, however further intensive research is required to understand its role in the pathogenesis of anthrax and its possible mechanism of action.