Methods for rapid detection and identification of bioagents in epidemiological and forensic investigations

Abstract

The present invention provides methods for rapid forensic investigations by identification of bioagents associated with biowarfare and acts of terrorism or crime. The methods are also useful for epidemiological investigations by genotyping of bioagents.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of identifying a bioagent associated with an act of biowarfare, terrorism or criminal activity comprising the steps of:
 determining a first molecular mass of a first amplification product of a first bioagent identifying amplicon obtained from a sample taken at the scene of biowarfare, terrorism or criminal activity; and   comparing the first molecular mass to a second molecular mass of a second bioagent identifying amplicon, wherein both first and second bioagent identifying amplicons are correlative.   
     
     
         2 . A method of  claim 1  wherein the second molecular mass of the second bioagent identifying amplicon is indexed to a bioagent and contained in a database. 
     
     
         3 . A method of  claim 1  wherein a first base composition signature is determined from the first molecular mass of the first amplification product and wherein the first base composition signature is compared to a second base composition signature determined for the second bioagent identifying amplicon. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the second base composition signature is indexed to a bioagent and contained in a database. 
     
     
         5 . A method of  claim 1  wherein the bioagent is selected from a group consisting of a bacterium, a virus, a fungus and a toxin. 
     
     
         6 . A method of genotyping a bioagent comprising the steps of:
 determining a first molecular mass of a first amplification product of a first bioagent identifying amplicon that contains genotyping information; and   comparing the first molecular mass to a second molecular mass of a second bioagent identifying amplicon that contains genotyping information, wherein the first and second bioagent identifying amplicons are correlative, and wherein a match between the first molecular mass and the second molecular mass identifies a genotype of the bioagent.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the genotyping information comprises a single nucleotide polymorphism. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the genotyping information comprises a variable number tandem repeat (VNTR). 
     
     
         9 . A method of  claim 6  wherein the genotyping information comprises a pathogenicity factor. 
     
     
         10 . A method of  claim 9  wherein the pathogenicity factor is a pathogenicity island, a virulence marker, or a toxin component. 
     
     
         11 . A method of  claim 10  which is used to detect a genetic engineering event. 
     
     
         12 . A method of  claim 6  wherein the second molecular mass of the second bioagent identifying amplicon that contains genotyping information is indexed to a genotype and contained in a database. 
     
     
         13 . A method of  claim 6  wherein a first base composition signature is determined from the first molecular mass of the first amplification product and wherein the first base composition signature is compared to a second base composition signature determined for the second bioagent identifying amplicon. 
     
     
         14 . A method of  claim 13  wherein the second base composition signature is indexed to a genotype and contained in a database. 
     
     
         15 . A method of tracking a known or suspected terrorist or criminal comprising the steps of:
 determining a first molecular mass of a first amplification product of a first bioagent identifying amplicon containing microbial geographic profiling information from a forensic sample known to be associated with the terrorist or criminal; and   comparing the first molecular mass to a second molecular mass of a second bioagent identifying amplicon wherein the second bioagent identifying amplicon contains microbial geographic profiling information, wherein both first and second bioagent identifying amplicons are correlative, and wherein a match between the first molecular mass and the second molecular mass indicates at least transient presence of the known or suspected criminal at a geographic location indicated by the microbial geographic profiling information.   
     
     
         16 . A method of  claim 15  wherein the second molecular mass of the second bioagent identifying amplicon is indexed to a bioagent and contained in a database. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the second molecular mass of the second bioagent identifying amplicon is indexed to microbial geographic profiling information and contained in a database. 
     
     
         18 . A method of  claim 15  wherein a first base composition signature is determined from the first molecular mass of the first amplification product and wherein the first base composition signature is compared to a second base composition signature determined for the second bioagent identifying amplicon. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the second base composition signature is indexed to a bioagent and contained in a database. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the second base composition signature is indexed to microbial geographic profiling information and contained in a database.