In addition to strong capabilities in prevention and preparedness for the possibility of an intentional introduction of a crop pest or pathogen, it is also important to be able to identify the person or group responsible for the event. The process and impacts of attribution of a criminal act not only help to prevent further actions of a similar nature, but can also serve as a deterrent. Forensic microbiology is a new discipline focusing on criminal actions involving microorganisms, generally pathogens of consequence to humans, animals or plants. It blends elements of diverse traditional disciplines including, among others, forensic sciences, microbiology, human medicine, veterinary science, and plant pathology. Critical features of a microbial forensics capability include rigorous validation, standardization, reliability, and repeatability of technologies and tools, leading to a high level of confidence in the association of a criminallyintroduced pathogen with one or more perpetrators.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
American Phytopathological Society Public Policy Board. (2002) The American Phytopathological Society, first line of defense. APSnet. http://www.apsnet.org. Accessed on 15 January 2008
Budowle B, Burans J, Breeze RG, Wilson MR, Chakraborty R. (2005a) Microbial forensics, pp. 1-26 In: Breeze RG, Budowle B, Schutzer SE (eds.), Microbial Forensics, Elsevier Academic Press, London
Budowle B, Johnson MD, Fraser CM, Leighton TJ, Murch RS, Chakraborty R (2005b) Genetic analysis and attribution of microbial forensics evidence. Crit. Rev. Microbiol. 31: 233-254.
Budowle B, Murch RS, Chakraborty R. (2005c) Microbial forensics: the next forensic challenge. Int. J. Leg. Med. 119: 317-330
Casagrande R. (2000) Biological terrorism targeted at agriculture: The threat to U.S. national security. The Nonproliferation Rev./Fall-Winter: pp. 92-105. http://cns.miis.edu/pubs/npr/ vol07/73/73casa.pdf. Accessed on 14 January 2008
Fletcher J, Bender CL, Cobb WT, Gold SE, Ishimaru CE, Luster DG, Melcher UK, Murch RL, Scherm H, Seem RC, Sherwood JL, Sobral B, and Tolin SA, Plant pathogen forensics: Capabilities, needs and recommendations. (2006) Microbiol. Molec. Biol. Rev. 70: 450-471
Grunow R, Finke E-J. (2002) A procedure for differentiating between the intentional release of biological warfare agents and natural outbreaks of disease: its use in analyzing the tularemia outbreak in Kosovo in 1999 and 2000. Clin Microbiol Infect 8: 510-521
Hughes G, Madden L, Gottwald TR. (2004) Strategies of sampling for detection. Phytopathology 94: S137
Madden LV. (2001) What are the nonindigenous plant pathogens that threaten U.S. crops and forests? APSnet Feature Article. www.apsnet.org/online/feature/exotic/. Accessed on 14 January 2008
Madden LV, Hughes G. (1999) Sampling for plant disease incidence. Phytopathology 89: 1088-1103
Madden L, Wheelis M. (2003) The threat of plant pathogens as weapons against U.S. crops. Annu. Rev. Phytopathol. 41:155-176
Murch RS. (2003) Microbial forensics: Building a national capacity to investigate bioterrorism. Biosecur. & Bioterr.: Biodef., Strateg., Pract. & Sci. 1:117-122
Nutter FW Jr. (2004) Post-introduction mapping of new and emerging agricultural pathogens in real-time using GPS and GIS technologies. (Abstr.) Phytopathology 94: S130
Nutter FW Jr, Madden LV. (2002) Plant diseases as a possible consequence of biological attack. In: Bronze MS and Greenfield RA. (eds.) Biodefense: Principles and Pathogens, Horizon Bioscience, Norwich
National Research Council, Committee on Biological Threats to Agricultural Plants and Animals. (2003) Countering agricultural bioterrorism. National Academies Press, Washington D.C.
Stack J, Cardwell K, Hammerschmidt R, Byrne J, Loria R, Snover-Clift K, Baldwin W, Wisler G, Beck H, Bostock R, Thomas C, Luke E. (2006) The National Plant Diagnostic Network. Pl. Dis. 90: 128-136
Wheelis M, Casagrande R, Madden LV. (2002) Biological attack on agriculture: Low-tech, high impact bioterrorism. Bioscience 52: 569-576
Whitby SM. (2001) The potential use of plant pathogens against crops. Microbes Infect. 3:73-80
Whitby SM. (2002) Biological warfare against crops. Palgrave, Basingstoke
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2008 Springer Science + Business Media B.V
About this paper
Cite this paper
Fletcher, J. (2008). The Need for Forensic Tools in a Balanced National Agricultural Security Program. In: Gullino, M.L., Fletcher, J., Gamliel, A., Stack, J.P. (eds) Crop Biosecurity. NATO Science for Peace and Security Series C: Environmental Security. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-8476-8_8
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-8476-8_8
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-1-4020-8475-1
Online ISBN: 978-1-4020-8476-8
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesBiomedical and Life Sciences (R0)