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Meeting Highlights | Applied and Environmental Science

Molecular Detection of Biological Agents in the Field: Then and Now

Kenneth B. Yeh, Hillary Wood, Matt Scullion, Joseph A. Russell, Kyle Parker, Bryan T. Gnade, Anthony R. Jones, Christopher Whittier, Kay Mereish
Michael J. Imperiale, Editor
Kenneth B. Yeh
aMRIGlobal, Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA
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Hillary Wood
aMRIGlobal, Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA
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Matt Scullion
bBioFire Defense, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
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Joseph A. Russell
aMRIGlobal, Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA
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Kyle Parker
aMRIGlobal, Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA
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Bryan T. Gnade
cUSAMRIID, Fort Detrick, Maryland, USA
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Anthony R. Jones
dWRAIR, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
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Christopher Whittier
eTufts University, North Grafton, Massachusetts, USA
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Kay Mereish
fDepartment of Homeland Security, Washington, DC, USA
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Michael J. Imperiale
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Roles: Editor
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DOI: 10.1128/mSphere.00695-19
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ABSTRACT

Molecular detection of biological agents in the field has traditionally relied on the use of quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR), which now includes commercially available instruments that can be used in the laboratory or field. Adapting this technology for field-forward applications necessitated innovation to minimize size, weight, and power requirements. Rugged, portable instruments, efficient power sources, freeze-dried reagents, data communications, and standard operating procedures for minimally trained users are some examples of limitations that have been overcome to allow qPCR-based data to be generated at the point of need. Despite the high specificity and sensitivity of qPCR, the assays require a priori sequence-based knowledge of the etiological agent to design and produce specific targeted assays with primers and probes. However, in many cases the etiological agent may not be known and pathogen identification must rely on the use of an untargeted screening method. By extracting, preparing, and sequencing all of the genomic material in a particular sample at once, known as metagenomics, a less biased view of the biological entities in that sample can be ascertained. Using metagenomics methods in the field requires the development and optimization of straightforward sample preparation, sequencing, and bioinformatics workflows reminiscent of the challenges faced during the development of field-forward qPCR 15 years ago. To review the state of qPCR and sequencing in the field, we summarized a panel discussion from the 2019 ASM Biothreats Conference. Our discussion focused on the development, evolution, and comparison of molecular methods for biological agents and their utility in the field.

This is a work of the U.S. Government and is not subject to copyright protection in the United States. Foreign copyrights may apply.

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Molecular Detection of Biological Agents in the Field: Then and Now
Kenneth B. Yeh, Hillary Wood, Matt Scullion, Joseph A. Russell, Kyle Parker, Bryan T. Gnade, Anthony R. Jones, Christopher Whittier, Kay Mereish
mSphere Dec 2019, 4 (6) e00695-19; DOI: 10.1128/mSphere.00695-19

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Molecular Detection of Biological Agents in the Field: Then and Now
Kenneth B. Yeh, Hillary Wood, Matt Scullion, Joseph A. Russell, Kyle Parker, Bryan T. Gnade, Anthony R. Jones, Christopher Whittier, Kay Mereish
mSphere Dec 2019, 4 (6) e00695-19; DOI: 10.1128/mSphere.00695-19
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KEYWORDS

detection
real-time PCR
diagnostics
genomic sequencing
field laboratory

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