6.5.3 Microbial Forensics

• What is the purpose of microbial forensics?

  Identify infectious agent sources
• Microbial forensics combines techniques from microbiology, genetics, and epidemiology
• Match the application of microbial forensics with its description:

  Criminal Investigations ↔️ Linking pathogens to crime scenes

  Public Health Emergencies ↔️ Tracing outbreaks of infectious diseases

  Bioterrorism Events ↔️ Identifying origin and spread of bioterror agents
• One of the key principles of microbial forensics is source attribution.
• Steps in tracing the spread of a new influenza virus during a pandemic using microbial forensics

  1️⃣ Identify the virus strain

  2️⃣ Analyze epidemiological data

  3️⃣ Use spatial analysis to map spread
• Source attribution uses phylogenetic analysis to trace the lineage of a microorganism
• What technique is used to link anthrax spores found at a crime scene to a laboratory's stock?

  DNA sequencing
• Microbial forensics can be used to trace the origin of botulinum toxin in a bioterrorism event.
• DNA sequencing determines the genetic makeup of a microorganism.
• Match the microbial forensics technique with its application:

  DNA sequencing ↔️ Identifying microorganisms

  Phylogenetic analysis ↔️ Tracing the origin of microorganisms
• What does phylogenetic analysis trace in microbial forensics?

  Evolutionary relationships
• Comparative genomics compares the genomes of different microorganisms to identify similarities and differences
• Match the microbial forensic technique with its primary application:

  DNA sequencing ↔️ Identifying microorganisms

  Phylogenetic analysis ↔️ Tracing the origin of microorganisms

  Comparative genomics ↔️ Comparing genomes to identify source
• DNA sequencing determines the genetic makeup of a microorganism.
• What is the application of phylogenetic analysis in microbial forensics?

  Tracing the origin
• Microbial forensics integrates microbiology, genetics, and epidemiology
• What is the first principle of microbial forensics?

  Identification
• DNA sequencing is used in the identification principle of microbial forensics.
• Source attribution uses phylogenetic analysis to trace the lineage of a microorganism
• What type of data is used in the traceback principle of microbial forensics?

  Epidemiological data
• Order the key principles of microbial forensics:

  1️⃣ Identification

  2️⃣ Source Attribution

  3️⃣ Traceback
• How does microbial forensics link pathogens to crime scenes?

  By matching genetic profiles
• Microbial forensics can determine the origins of foodborne illnesses.
• DNA sequencing in microbial forensics is used for identifying pathogen species and strains
• What can DNA sequencing help link in a criminal investigation?

  Suspect to crime
• Match the case study with the microbial forensic technique used:

  2001 Anthrax Attacks ↔️ DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis

  2010 Haiti Cholera Outbreak ↔️ Phylogenetic analysis

  2011 German E. coli Outbreak ↔️ Comparative genomics
• The 2001 Anthrax attacks were traced back to a domestic source using DNA sequencing.
• The 2010 Haiti cholera outbreak was traced to Nepalese UN peacekeepers using phylogenetic analysis
• What was identified as the source of the 2011 German E. coli outbreak?

  Contaminated sprouts
• What microbial forensic techniques were used in the 2001 Anthrax attacks?

  DNA sequencing, phylogenetic analysis
• The 2010 Haiti cholera outbreak was traced back to Nepalese UN peacekeepers using phylogenetic
• What was identified as the cause of the 2011 German E. coli outbreak?

  A rare, virulent strain
• Microbial forensics can lead to effective source attribution and prevention strategies.
• Match the case with the microbial forensic technique used:

  2001 Anthrax Attacks ↔️ DNA sequencing, phylogenetic analysis

  2010 Haiti Cholera Outbreak ↔️ Phylogenetic analysis

  2011 German E. coli Outbreak ↔️ Comparative genomics
• What is one challenge of microbial forensics related to microbial genomes?

  Complexity of microbial genomes
• Existing microbial databases may lack comprehensive reference data
• Improper handling of samples can degrade DNA, affecting sequencing accuracy.
• What is the primary purpose of microbial forensics?

  Identifying the source of threats
• Microbial forensics combines techniques from microbiology, genetics, and epidemiology
• What is one key principle of microbial forensics related to identifying microorganisms?

  Identification