title: The Microbial Rosetta Stone Database: a compilation of global and emerging infectious microorganisms and bioterrorist threat agents.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Thousands of different microorganisms affect the health, safety, and economic stability of populations. Many different medical and governmental organizations have created lists of the pathogenic microorganisms relevant to their missions; however, the nomenclature for biological agents on these lists and pathogens described in the literature is inexact. This ambiguity can be a significant block to effective communication among the diverse communities that must deal with epidemics or bioterrorist attacks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We have developed a database known as the Microbial Rosetta Stone. The database relates microorganism names, taxonomic classifications, diseases, specific detection and treatment protocols, and relevant literature. The database structure facilitates linkage to public genomic databases. This paper focuses on the information in the database for pathogens that impact global public health, emerging infectious organisms, and bioterrorist threat agents.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Microbial Rosetta Stone is available at http://www.microbialrosettastone.com/. The database provides public access to up-to-date taxonomic classifications of organisms that cause human diseases, improves the consistency of nomenclature in disease reporting, and provides useful links between different public genomic and public health databases.
authors.affiliation: Ibis Therapeutics, 1891 Rutherford Rd., Carlsbad, CA 92008, USA. decker@isisph.com
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Ecker
authors.forename: Rangarajan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sampath
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Willett
authors.forename: Jacqueline R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Wyatt
authors.forename: Vivek
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Samant
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Massire
authors.forename: Thomas A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: Kumar
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hari
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: McNeil
authors.forename: Cornelia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Büchen-Osmond
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Budowle
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D023482:Bioterrorism; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000821:virology; D016208:Databases, Factual; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000145:classification; D005658:Fungi / Q000145:classification; D005818:Genetic Engineering; D006801:Humans; D009181:Mycoses / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D011528:Protozoan Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D014780:Viruses / Q000145:classification