Infrared Spectral Library of Bacterial Spores (Sharpe's NNSA, PNNL Scope #28727)
EMSL Project ID
19396
Abstract
It has been demonstrated that bacterial endospores have unique infrared (IR) signatures that can be identified to the species-, and in some cases, to the strain-level using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) analysis. FTIR is a non-destructive technology that uses small samples (e.g. 100 µL of 108 CFU/mL). Whether using highly sensitive IR laser spectroscopies (e.g. with a quantum cascade laser) or remote sensing using broadband FTIR methods to detect endospores, the need for high quality reference data is critical: A set of vetted, standardized data needs to be available to the user community for detection and identification purposes. Over the past three years PNNL has established a vigorous research program into the identification, quantification and attribution of microbiological endospores using several analytical techniques. Included in these techniques is infrared spectroscopy, where PNNL researchers have shown that it is possible to use IR spectra in combination with statistical methods to distinguish bacteria from background interferents, distinguish between the bacteria's vegetative and sporulated states, and distinguish between various Bacillus species, in many cases down to the strain level. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) will continue its research, investigating the unique infrared signatures of microbiological species for national security and homeland defense. Specifically, PNNL will expand and formalize the current FTIR fingerprint database for bacterial endospores into a more encompassing and readily available library to include representative bacterial endospores, vegetative bacteria, and common aerosol background interferents. Akin to PNNL's spectral database of gases and vapors, the proposed microbiological spectral database would be available for use by United States Government (USG) agencies and their designated partners. We would leverage PNNL's experience at developing vapor- and liquid-phase infrared spectral libraries into constructing a well documented and vetted set of standard signatures of the species of interest along with aerosols and other interferent materials.
Project Details
Project type
Exploratory Research
Start Date
2006-08-28
End Date
2007-08-28
Status
Closed
Released Data Link
Team
Principal Investigator
Team Members
Related Publications
TIMOTHY J. JOHNSON,- STEPHEN D. WILLIAMS, NANCY B. VALENTINE, and
YIN-FONG SU
The Infrared Spectra of Bacillus Bacteria Part II: Sporulated
Bacillus?The Effect of Vegetative Cells and Contributions of
Calcium Dipicolinate Trihydrate, CaDP3H2O
Volume 63, Number 8, 2009 pp. 908-915