Forensic application of microbiological culture analysis to identify mail intentionally contaminated with bacillus anthracis spores

Article Abstract:

A microbiological sampling strategy was undertaken to find heavy contamination within 642 separate plastic bags containing the mail delivered to the office of a United States senator, which was found to be intentionally filled with dried Bacillus anthracis spores. Results demonstrate that there was successful integration of microbiological methodology with law enforcement and hazmat objectives, and procedures and also highlight some of the basic deficiencies in bioterrorism response at the time described.

Virginia, Microbial contamination

Differentiation of bacillus anthracis, B. cereus, and B. thuringiensis by using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis

Article Abstract:

A pulsed field gel electrophoresis method is developed for discriminating Bacillus anthracis from Bacillus cereus and Bacillus thuringiensis. Bacillus anthracis is distinguished from its closest relatives by using the PFGE profiles from NotI digestion.

Analysis, Gel electrophoresis, Digestive enzymes

Inactivation of Bacillus anthracis spores by liquid biocides in the presence of food residue

Article Abstract:

Biocide inactivation of Bacillus anthracis spores in the presence of food residues after a 10-min treatment time is investigated. Peroxygen biocides prove to be useful for Bacillus anthracis spore inactivation when food residue is present.

Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing, Medicinals and botanicals, Biocides, Drug resistance in microorganisms, Microbial drug resistance