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Applied and Environmental Microbiology, June 2007, p. 3896-3908, Vol. 73, No. 12
0099-2240/07/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AEM.02906-06
Copyright © 2007, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Stable Isotope Ratios and Forensic Analysis of Microorganisms{triangledown}

Helen W. Kreuzer-Martin* and Kristin H. Jarman

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 999 Battelle Boulevard, Richland, Washington 99352

Received 15 December 2006/ Accepted 21 April 2007

In the aftermath of the anthrax letters of 2001, researchers have been exploring various analytical signatures for the purpose of characterizing the production environment of microorganisms. One such signature is stable isotope ratios, which in heterotrophs, are a function of nutrient and water sources. Here we discuss the use of stable isotope ratios in microbial forensics, using as a database the carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and hydrogen stable isotope ratios of 247 separate cultures of Bacillus subtilis 6051 spores produced on a total of 32 different culture media. In the context of using stable isotope ratios as a signature for sample matching, we present an analysis of variations between individual samples, between cultures produced in tandem, and between cultures produced in the same medium but at different times. Additionally, we correlate the stable isotope ratios of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and hydrogen for growth medium nutrients or water with those of spores and show examples of how these relationships can be used to exclude nutrient or water samples as possible growth substrates for specific cultures.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 999 Battelle Blvd., P8-13, Richland, WA 99352. Phone: (509) 376-3885. Fax: (509) 376-2986. E-mail: Helen.kreuzer{at}pnl.gov

{triangledown} Published ahead of print on 27 April 2007.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, June 2007, p. 3896-3908, Vol. 73, No. 12
0099-2240/07/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AEM.02906-06
Copyright © 2007, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



This article has been cited by other articles:

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  • Jarman, K. H., Kreuzer-Martin, H. W., Wunschel, D. S., Valentine, N. B., Cliff, J. B., Petersen, C. E., Colburn, H. A., Wahl, K. L. (2008). Bayesian-Integrated Microbial Forensics. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 74: 3573-3582 [Abstract] [Full Text]  


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