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Identification of Bacillus anthracis Using Gas Chromatographic Analysis of Cellular Fatty Acids and a Commercially Available Database

Abstract: The U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID, Fort Detrick, MD), the Department of Defense's lead laboratory for medical aspects of biological warfare defense, has established a database entry for Bacillus anthracis using the Sherlock® Microbial Identification System (MIS) from MIDI, Inc., Newark, DE. The Sherlock MIS uses gas chromatographic analysis of fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) to identify over 1,500 species of bacteria, including six bacteria highly considered to be potential agents of biological terrorism. Identification is made upon comparison of unknown chromatographic patterns to the Sherlock libraries (databases) using precise peak naming, sophisticated pattern recognition algorithms and extensive microbial databases. The new B. anthracis data set entry in the Sherlock® Bioterrorism (BIOTER1.0) Library allowed for accurate identification of B. anthracis isolates, both previously seen and never before seen. The system could estimate the relatedness of strains, which has potential in forensic analyses to determine attribution to the use of biological threat agents.

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