6.5.3 Microbial Forensics

• Microbial forensics combines techniques from microbiology, genetics, and epidemiology
• What is one key application of microbial forensics in criminal investigations?

  Linking pathogens to crime scenes
• Microbial forensics can be used to trace outbreaks of infectious diseases.
• What are the three key principles of microbial forensics?

  1️⃣ Identification

  2️⃣ Source Attribution

  3️⃣ Traceback
• Source attribution in microbial forensics uses phylogenetic analysis to trace the lineage
• What type of data is essential for traceback in microbial forensics?

  Epidemiological data
• 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
• Identification in microbial forensics involves comparing genetic profiles to known pathogens
• What is one technique used to link pathogens to crime scenes in criminal investigations?

  DNA sequencing
• Microbial forensics can determine the origin of foodborne illness outbreaks.
• What are the three key techniques used in microbial forensics?

  1️⃣ DNA sequencing

  2️⃣ Phylogenetic analysis

  3️⃣ Comparative genomics
• What does phylogenetic analysis help trace in microbial forensics?

  Evolutionary relationships
• Comparative genomics in microbial forensics identifies similarities and differences in microbial genomes
• Match the technique with its application in microbial forensics:

  DNA sequencing ↔️ Identifying microorganisms

  Phylogenetic analysis ↔️ Tracing the origin of microorganisms

  Comparative genomics ↔️ Comparing genomes to identify source
• DNA sequencing is used in microbial forensics to determine the genetic makeup of a microorganism.
• Phylogenetic analysis in microbial forensics is used to trace the origin
• What does DNA sequencing determine in microbial forensics?

  Genetic makeup
• Phylogenetic analysis in microbial forensics traces the evolutionary relationships between microorganisms
• DNA sequencing is used in microbial forensics to identify microorganisms.
• What does phylogenetic analysis trace in microbial forensics?

  Evolutionary relationships
• Comparative genomics in microbial forensics identifies similarities and differences in genomes
• Order the fields integrated in microbial forensics:

  1️⃣ Microbiology

  2️⃣ Genetics

  3️⃣ Epidemiology
• What is an example of microbial forensics being used in criminal investigations?

  Matching anthrax strains
• The first principle of microbial forensics is identification
• DNA sequencing is used in microbial forensics to compare genetic profiles of microorganisms.
• What is used in microbial forensics to pinpoint the origin of a microorganism?

  Phylogenetic analysis
• Traceback in microbial forensics relies on epidemiological data and spatial analysis
• Match the application of microbial forensics with its description:

  Linking pathogens to crime scenes ↔️ Connects pathogens to specific individuals

  Tracing bioterror agents ↔️ Identifies the source and spread

  Determining foodborne illness origins ↔️ Identifies the source of contamination
• What does DNA sequencing determine in microbial forensics?

  Genetic makeup
• Phylogenetic analysis in microbial forensics traces the evolutionary relationships between microorganisms
• Which technique was used in the 2001 Anthrax Attacks to identify the source of the spores?

  Comparative genomics
• Phylogenetic analysis traced the 2010 Haiti Cholera Outbreak to a Nepalese UN peacekeeping camp.
• Whole genome sequencing was used in 2015 to identify the source of salmonella in a foodborne outbreak
• What is one challenge in microbial forensics due to complex microbial ecosystems?

  Isolating specific strains
• Genetic variability in microorganisms can lead to misinterpretation of genetic data.
• Limited historical data in microbial forensics restricts accurate tracing and identification
• What technique is used in Microbial Forensics to determine the species and strain of a microorganism?

  DNA sequencing
• Source attribution in Microbial Forensics involves analyzing the genetic makeup and geographic distribution of a microorganism.
• Traceback in Microbial Forensics relies on epidemiological data and spatial analysis