Role of law enforcement response and microbial forensics in investigation of bioterrorism.
The risk and threat of bioterrorism and biocrime have become a large concern and challenge for governments and society to enhance biosecurity. Law enforcement plays an important role in assessing and investigating activities involved in an event of bioterrorism or biocrime. Key to a successful biosecurity program is increased awareness and early detection of threats facilitated by an integrated network of responsibilities and capabilities from government, academic, private, and public assets. To support an investigation, microbial forensic sciences are employed to analyze and characterize forensic evidence with the goal of attribution or crime scene reconstruction. Two different molecular biology-based assays--real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and repetitive element PCR--are described and demonstrate how molecular biology tools may be utilized to aid in the investigative process. Technologies relied on by microbial forensic scientists need to be properly validated so that the methods used are understood and so that interpretation of results is carried out within the limitations of the assays. The three types of validation are preliminary, developmental, and internal. The first is necessary for rapid response when a threat is imminent or an attack has recently occurred. The latter two apply to implementation of routinely used procedures.
Budowle
Bruce
B
Scientific Analysis Section, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Quantico, Va, USA. bruce.budowle@ic.fbi.gov
Beaudry
Jodi A
JA
Barnaby
Neel G
NG
Giusti
Alan M
AM
Bannan
Jason D
JD
Keim
Paul
P
D023482:Bioterrorism / Q000517:prevention & control; D044707:Forensic Sciences; D005821:Genetic Techniques; D005827:Genetics, Microbial; D006801:Humans; D035846:Law Enforcement; D008828:Microbiological Techniques; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
Nucleic Acids Res. 2000 Jan 15;28(2):655-61
10606668
J Clin Microbiol. 2007 Jan;45(1):47-53
17093023
Science. 2002 Jun 14;296(5575):2028-33
12004073
Emerg Infect Dis. 2002 Oct;8(10):1152-6
12396931
Croat Med J. 2003 Jun;44(3):336-41
12808729
Science. 2003 Sep 26;301(5641):1852-3
14512607
Mol Cell Probes. 2004 Apr;18(2):117-22
15051121
J Clin Microbiol. 2004 Jun;42(6):2359-65
15184405
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2004 Sep 14;101(37):13536-41
15347815
Infect Genet Evol. 2004 Sep;4(3):205-13
15450200
Semin Pediatr Infect Dis. 2004 Oct;15(4):280-7
15494953
Cell. 1984 Jul;37(3):1015-26
6378385
Nucleic Acids Res. 1990 Nov 25;18(22):6503-8
2251112
J Gen Microbiol. 1991 Mar;137(3):601-6
2033380
Mol Microbiol. 1991 Apr;5(4):825-34
1713281
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1991 Aug 15;88(16):7276-80
1871133
Nucleic Acids Res. 1991 Dec 25;19(24):6823-31
1762913
J Bacteriol. 1992 Jul;174(14):4525-9
1624445
Appl Environ Microbiol. 1992 Jul;58(7):2180-7
1637156
Biotechnology (N Y). 1992 Apr;10(4):413-7
1368485
J Gen Microbiol. 1993 Jun;139 Pt 6:1125-32
8360609
Nucleic Acids Res. 1993 Aug 11;21(16):3761-6
8367293
Appl Environ Microbiol. 1994 Jul;60(7):2286-95
8074510
PCR Methods Appl. 1995 Feb;4(4):234-8
8574192
Appl Environ Microbiol. 1995 Oct;61(10):3724-8
7487008
Appl Environ Microbiol. 1996 Mar;62(3):804-8
8975610
J Bacteriol. 1997 Feb;179(3):818-24
9006038
Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 1997 Jun;18(6):426-39
9181401
JAMA. 1997 Aug 6;278(5):389-95
9244330
J Bacteriol. 1999 Apr;181(8):2358-62
10197996
FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol. 2005 Feb 1;43(2):301-10
15681162
Appl Environ Microbiol. 2005 May;71(5):2209-13
15870301
Int J Legal Med. 2005 Nov;119(6):317-30
15821943
Crit Rev Microbiol. 2005;31(4):233-54
16417203
J Clin Microbiol. 2006 Mar;44(3):1065-73
16517895
Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2006 Jun;20(2):455-73, xi
16762747
Appl Environ Microbiol. 2006 Oct;72(10):6431-8
17021190
J Bacteriol. 2000 May;182(10):2928-36
10781564