Identification of a Bacillus anthracis specific indel in the yeaC gene and development of a rapid pyrosequencing assay for distinguishing B. anthracis from the B. cereus group

► Examination of genome sequences identified an indel unique to B. anthracis. ► Screening of B. cereus group strains confirmed the indel was specific to B. anthracis. ► Development of a pyrosequencing assay targeting the indel region enabled rapid identification of B. anthracis.