Abstract
In the event of bioterrorism, infectious disease outbreaks in the food supply chain, or hospital acquired infections, rapid, high-resolution genetic characterization is critical for determining the identity of the agent and attributing it to a specific source. Four Bacillus anthracis strains were sequenced to demonstrate the utility of next-generation sequencing technology, specifically the SOLiD™ system (Applied Biosystems™, Foster City, CA), for microbial forensics investigations. Reads from the B. anthracis Ames ancestor strain detected only a single false positive SNP. Of the 148 SNPs that distinguish the Ames and Sterne strains, 126 (85%) were identified with 19 of the 22 uncalled SNPs in two dense clusters that precluded mapping of reads. Three previously unsequenced, geographically distinct B. anthracis strains from the A branch lineage were found to have between 352 and 471 SNPs each, relative to the Ames ancestor reference genome. The high throughput, multiplexing capability, and accuracy of the SOLiD™ system make it suitable for rapid whole-genome typing of microbial pathogens during a forensic or epidemiological investigation.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 300-301 |
Number of pages | 2 |
Journal | Forensic Science International: Genetics Supplement Series |
Volume | 2 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 2009 |
Keywords
- Bacillus anthracis
- Microbial forensics
- SOLiD system
- Sequencing
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pathology and Forensic Medicine
- Genetics