The Microbial Rosetta Stone Database: a compilation of global and emerging infectious microorganisms and bioterrorist threat agents.
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.
Ecker
David J
DJ
Ibis Therapeutics, 1891 Rutherford Rd., Carlsbad, CA 92008, USA. decker@isisph.com
Sampath
Rangarajan
R
Willett
Paul
P
Wyatt
Jacqueline R
JR
Samant
Vivek
V
Massire
Christian
C
Hall
Thomas A
TA
Hari
Kumar
K
McNeil
John A
JA
Büchen-Osmond
Cornelia
C
Budowle
Bruce
B
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