We report on a genome-independent microbial fingerprinting method using nucleic acid microarrays for microbial forensics and epidemiology applications. We demonstrate that the microarray method provides high-resolution differentiation between closely related microorganisms using Salmonella enterica strains. In replicate trials we used a simple 192-probe nonamer array to construct a fingerprint library of 25 closely related Salmonella isolates. Controlling false discovery rate for multiple testing at alpha =.05, at least 295 of 300 pairs of S. enterica isolate fingerprints were found to be statistically distinct using a modified Hotelling Tsquared test. Although we find most pairs of Salmonella fingerprints to be distinct, forensic applications will also require a protocol for library construction and reliable microbial classification against a fingerprint library. We outline additional steps required to produce a protocol for library construction and reliable classification of unknown organisms.
Revised: May 25, 2011 |
Published: March 22, 2004
Citation
Willse A.R., T.M. Straub, S.C. Wunschel, J.A. Small, D.R. Call, D.S. Daly, and D.P. Chandler. 2004.Quantitative Oligonucleotide Microarray Fingerprinting of Salmonella enterica isolates.Nucleic Acids Research 32, no. 5:1848-1856.PNNL-SA-39968.