Forensic Microbiology Flashcards
what affects gastrointestinal microbiome
- host factors
- age
- delivery pattern
- diet
- antibiotics
- probiotics
- prebiotics
- FMT
host factors
specific and nonspecific factors
nonspecific factors
- IgA
- mucus
- AMPs
specific factors
MiRNAs
what can affect skin microbiomes?
internal and external factors
internal factors that can affect the skin microbiome
- age
- genetics
- gender
- immunity
- hormones
- sleep
- stress
- metabolism
external factors that can affect the skin microbiome
- hygiene
- beauty routine
- climate
- physical activity
- exposure to chemicals
- availability of nutrients for microorganisms
- sunlight
- air & water pollution
forensic role for hand bacteria
- used in the same way as DNA
- communities of bacteria living on a persons skin are different for each individual
example of hand bacterias forensic role
a team took swabs from keyboards & were able to match the bacteria they found to the computer owners
axises of a PCA plot
- PC1 on the x axis
- PC2 on the y axis
PC1
most variation in data
PC2
second most variation in data
necrobiome
what the microbiome turns into when you die
bacteria in the necrobiome
early bacteria that specialize in the break down of fats & proteins and are good nitrogen users
spectrum of biorisks
involves the threat or use of biological agents by individuals or groups motivated by political, religious, ecological, or other ideological objectives
types of biorisks
- natural outbreak
- accidental release
- biocrime
- bioterrorism
- biowarfare
in the spectrum of biorisks there is a focus on a need for:
rapid pathogen identification tracing
importance of rapid pathogen identification tracing
- accidental or natural infection
- identification of microbes
- bioterrorism
example of rapid pathogen identification tracing
- nurse exposed to HIV while handling a patients blood
- tested on the day of injury - anti-HIV antibodies
- employers - you were already infected
- nurse - no sex, no needles, no transfusion
- virus profiles analyzed from both the nurse & patients
example of food poisoning
- intentional by Rajneeshees cult in an attempt to influence an election
- obtained Salmonella through state-license medical laboratory
- coated plastic gloves, then handled salad bar food
- deliberate act but originally dismissed
how did they know the food poising example was deliberate
- 16 cases in the past 3 years, only 8 Salmonella
- 2 waves of poisoning
- so many people got it in a small area
- couldn’t find one food item responsible
what circumstances should cause public health officials to investigate an outbreak to suspect that the outbreak is intentional?
- a group claims credit for the outbreak
- the outbreak corresponds to threats that have been received
- the outbreak could not have occurred by natural means
Anthrax example
- 18 confirmed cases, 5 died
- determined to be the Ames strain
- all stocks traced back to the Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases
- not weaponized
- some strain Bruce Ivens worked with before he commit suicide
