Ames strain: Encyclopedia - Ames strain

Ames strain

The Ames strain is one of 89 strains from the anthrax bacteria (Bacillus anthracis). It was isolated from a diseased cow that died in Texas. Researchers mistakenly believed the strain came from Ames, Iowa and mislabeled the specimen. The Ames strain came to the public's attention during the 2001 anthrax attacks. Seven letters mailed to media outlets and United States Senators in September 18, 2001 and October 9, 2001 bio-terror attacks contained anthrax bacteria which grew from this particular strain. This strain is a monomorphic disease, mutating slowly if at all.

Because of its virulence, the Ames strain is used by the United States as a "gold standard" for development of vaccines and testing their effectiveness, starting at 1980s after the works with weaponizing the Vollum 1B strain were ended and the weaponized stocks destroyed after the end of US biological warfare program in 1969. [1]

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