Kamenidou Sophia, Jain Ravi, Hari Kumar, Robertson James M, Fletcher Jacqueline
National Institute for Microbial Forensics & Food and Agricultural Biosecurity, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater 74078.
cBio Inc., Fremont, CA 94536.
Plant Dis. 2013 Aug;97(8):1097-1102. doi: 10.1094/PDIS-03-12-0263-RE.
Microbial pathogens of humans, animals, and plants can serve as potential agents of biowarfare, bioterrorism, and biocrime. Previously, the Microbial Rosetta Stone (MRS) Central database, an easily accessible informational resource tool, was developed to assist law enforcement personnel in the event of a disease investigation by providing key information on pathogens of concern. Although the database already contained information on a few high-profile plant pathogens, the coverage was insufficient considering the large number of plant pathogens that pose a threat, not only to agricultural production but also to natural plant resources such as forests and rangelands. In this project, 100 plant pathogens of high consequence were selected for study, existing literature on these agents was reviewed, and both the sources and key pathogen information provided therein were curated in the new Agricultural Database (AgDB), an accessory to the existing MRS Central Database. Chosen for inclusion in the MRS Central AgDB were plant pathogens having significant potential for damage to U.S. agricultural and natural ecosystems. The selection process included review of several previously developed plant-pathogen threat lists and recommendations from experts within the U.S. plant biosecurity community. Pathogen information was collected by searching a number of relevant literature databases, sites on the World Wide Web, and other resources. For inclusion in the MRS, the information was curated into categories: pathogen taxonomy, nomenclature synonyms, disease symptoms and geographic distribution, plant hosts, insect vectors, detection and diagnostic methods, laboratory and field protocols, sample collection, and epidemiology. The resulting AgDB enhances the MRS Central Database by summarizing and linking key information on high-threat plant diseases and their causal agents to relevant scientific literature and internet resources. The AgDB contains critical, key information on high-consequence plant pathogens, curated in a format that is readily accessible and easily searched. The resource enhances the existing MRS Central Database and provides law enforcement, forensic, and investigative personnel with an additional tool with which to respond to microbial emergencies, particularly those affecting the agricultural and environmental sectors.
人类、动物和植物的微生物病原体可作为生物战、生物恐怖主义和生物犯罪的潜在媒介。此前,开发了微生物罗塞塔石碑(MRS)中央数据库,这是一个易于访问的信息资源工具,旨在通过提供有关相关病原体的关键信息,协助执法人员进行疾病调查。尽管该数据库已经包含了一些备受瞩目的植物病原体信息,但考虑到大量不仅对农业生产而且对森林和牧场等天然植物资源构成威胁的植物病原体,其覆盖范围仍显不足。在本项目中,挑选了100种具有高度危害性的植物病原体进行研究,查阅了关于这些病原体的现有文献,并将其中提供的病原体来源和关键信息整理到新的农业数据库(AgDB)中,该数据库是现有MRS中央数据库的附属数据库。被选入MRS中央AgDB的是对美国农业和自然生态系统具有重大破坏潜力的植物病原体。选择过程包括审查几个先前制定的植物病原体威胁清单以及美国植物生物安全界专家的建议。通过搜索多个相关文献数据库、万维网网站和其他资源收集病原体信息。为纳入MRS,这些信息被整理成以下类别:病原体分类学、命名同义词、疾病症状和地理分布、植物宿主、昆虫媒介、检测和诊断方法、实验室和野外操作规程、样本采集以及流行病学。由此产生的AgDB通过汇总和链接关于高威胁植物病害及其病原体的关键信息与相关科学文献和互联网资源,增强了MRS中央数据库。AgDB包含关于具有高度危害性的植物病原体的关键重要信息,其整理格式便于访问和搜索。该资源增强了现有的MRS中央数据库,并为执法、法医和调查人员提供了一个额外的工具,以便应对微生物紧急情况,特别是那些影响农业和环境部门的紧急情况。