Microbial Forensics

by Bruce Budowle (Editor), Steven E. Schutzer (Editor), Roger G. Breeze (Editor)

Overview

Microbial Forensics describes the new and growing field of Microbial Forensics- the science that will help bring to justice criminals and terrorists who use biological material to cause harm. This book describes the foundation of the field of microbial forensics and will serve as a basic primer to initiate those scientists and officials that have an interest in the topic. It covers a variety of areas from forensic science, to microbiology, to epidemiology, to bioinformatics, and to legal issues.

* Provides the real science beyond that displayed on TV and in the movies * Covers not only microbes but also the biology, chemistry, physics&computer science that is used for identification.* Of relevance Internationally to military, intelligence, law enforcement, agricultural, legal and environmental fields

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780080454887
Publisher:	Elsevier Science
Publication date:	05/26/2005
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	448
File size:	9 MB

About the Author

Dr. Budowle has a lengthy CV and career. Some of his efforts over the last 15 years also are in counter terrorism, including identification of victims from mass disasters and in efforts involving microbial forensics and bioterrorism. Dr. Budowle was an advisor to New York State in the effort to identify the victims from the WTC attack. In the area of microbial forensics, Dr. Budowle has been the chair of the Scientific Working Group on Microbial Genetics and Forensics, whose mission was to set QA guidelines, develop criteria for biologic and user databases, set criteria for a National Repository, and develop forensic genomic applications. He also has served on the Steering Committee for the Colloquium on Microbial Forensics sponsored by American Society of Microbiology, an organizer of four Microbial Forensics Meetings held at The Banbury Center in the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, and on steering committees for NAS sponsored meetings. Dr. Budowle has published approximately 600 articles, made more than 720 presentations (many of which were as an invited speaker at national and international meetings), and testified in well over 250 criminal cases in the areas of molecular biology, population genetics, statistics, quality assurance, and forensic biology. In addition, he has authored or co-authored books on molecular biology techniques, electrophoresis, protein detection, and microbial forensics.
Steven Schutzer, MD is a physician-scientist who trained and was on the faculty at Cornell University Medical College, New York Hospital, and Rockefeller University, before joining New Jersey Medical School. His research has focused on the interface of the immune system and microbes. Particular areas of research interest are Lyme and Tick diseases, neuroimmunology, and immunology. Dr. Schutzer is board certified in Internal Medicine, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, and Clinical Laboratory Immunology. Dr. Schutzer’s research is funded by the National Institutes of Health and other organizations.

Table of Contents

CONTRIBUTORS

FOREWORD

PREFACE

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Chapter 1: Microbial Forensics

Chapter 2: Infectious Diseases: Not Just a Health Matter Anymore

Chapter 3: The Fundamentals of Human Virology

Chapter 4: Keeping Track of Viruses

Chapter 5: Bacterial Pathogens

Chapter 6: Biology and Detection of Fungal Pathogens of Humans and Plants

Chapter 7: Forensic Aspects of Biologic Toxins

Chapter 8: Epidemiologic Investigation for Public Health, Biodefense, and Forensic Microbiology

Chapter 9: Molecular Epidemiology and Forensics of RNA Viruses

Chapter 10: Investigation of Suspicious Disease Outbreaks

Chapter 11: Forensic Handling of Biological Threat Samples in the Lab

Chapter 12: Forensic Genetic Analysis of Microorganisms: Overview of Some Important Technical Concepts and Selected Genetic Typing Methods

Chapter 13: Non-DNA Methods for Biological Signatures

Chapter 14: Microbial Forensics Host Factors

Chapter 15: Bioinformatics Methods for Microbial Detection and Forensic Diagnostic Design

Chapter 16: Population Genetics of Bacteria in a Forensic Context

Chapter 17: Quality Management in Microbial Forensics Laboratories

Chapter 18: Admissibility Standards for Scientific Evidence

Appendix

Quality Assurance Guidelines for Laboratories Performing Microbial Forensic Work

SUBJECT INDEX

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

A complete reference on microbial forensics as applied to crimes and crime scenes.

Editorial Reviews

"The second edition of Microbial Forensics provides a comprehensive overview of this emerging field, highlighting how epidemiological investigations must be conducted to provide evidence that can be used in legal proceedings where attribution is key. The book provides valuable insights into investigations of prior attempts to spread disease intentionally and needed guidance for investigating future incidents. This book will be of great value to microbiologists and epidemiologists as well as to law enforcement officials for bringing emerging molecular methodologies into investigations of disease outbreaks, especially those that are intentional criminal and terrorist acts." —Dr. Ronald M. Atlas, University of Louisville, KY, USA

From the Publisher