title: Fatty Acid Profiles for Differentiating Growth Medium Formulations Used to Culture Bacillus cereus T-strain Spores.
abstract: Microbial biomarkers that indicate aspects of an organism's growth conditions are important targets of forensic research. In this study, we examined fatty acid composition as a signature for the types of complex nutrients in the culturing medium. Bacillus cereus T-strain spores were grown in medium formulations supplemented with one of the following: peptone (meat protein), tryptone (casein protein), soy protein, and brain-heart infusion. Cellular biomass was profiled with fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) analysis. Results showed peptone cultures produced spores enriched in straight-chained lipids. Tryptone cultures produced spores enriched in branched-odd lipids when compared with peptone, soy, and brain-heart formulations. The observed FAME variation was used to construct a set of discriminant functions that could help identify the nutrients in a culturing recipe for an unknown spore sample. Blinded classification tests were most successful for spores grown on media containing peptone and tryptone, showing 88% and 100% correct identification, respectively.
authors: Department of Forensic Science, Virginia Commonwealth University, Grace E. Harris Hall South, 1015 Floyd Avenue, Richmond, VA.
authors: Christopher J
authors: CJ
authors: Ehrhardt
authors: Counterterrorism and Forensic Science Research Unit, Visiting Scientist Program, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Laboratory Division, 2501 Investigation Parkway, Quantico, VA 22135.|Counterterrorism and Forensic Science Research Unit, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Laboratory Division, 2501 Investigation Parkway, Quantico, VA 22135.
authors: Devonie L
authors: DL
authors: Murphy
authors: Counterterrorism and Forensic Science Research Unit, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Laboratory Division, 2501 Investigation Parkway, Quantico, VA 22135.
authors: James M
authors: JM
authors: Robertson
authors: Biological Program Science Advisor, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Laboratory Division, 2501 Investigation Parkway, Quantico, VA 22135.
authors: Jason D
authors: JD
authors: Bannan
mesh_terms: D001409:Bacillus cereus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000737:chemistry; D003470:Culture Media / Q000737:chemistry; D016002:Discriminant Analysis; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D010461:Peptones / Q000737:chemistry; D030262:Soybean Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D003470:Culture Media; D005227:Fatty Acids; D010461:Peptones; D030262:Soybean Proteins; C001830:tryptones
keywords: fatty acid methyl esters; forensic biology; forensic science; spores