The genetic basis of host resistance to Bacillus anthracis in inbred mice.

Inbred mice of the C3H/He (resistant) and C57BL/6 (susceptible) strains and their hybrids were used in experiments to investigate the genetic regulation of host resistance to B. anthracis. The susceptibility of F1 mice to a standard spore suspension was similar to that of the resistant parent and not intermediate between values for the parent strains. There were no differences in mortality rate between F1 and reciprocal cross mice. Analysis of the results indicated that resistance of mice to B. anthracis is regulated by a single dominant gene.