Journal Published Online: 01 September 2004
Volume 49, Issue 5

Stable Isotope Ratios as a Tool in Microbial Forensics—Part 1. Microbial Isotopic Composition as a Function of Growth Medium?

CODEN: JFSCAS

Abstract

The stable isotope ratios of a seized pathogen culture could potentially reveal information about the environment in which the agent was produced. In this paper we describe general relationships between stable isotopes of carbon, nitrogen, and hydrogen in bacteriological culture media and spores of Bacillus subtilis, an endospore-forming soil bacterium. In numerous media that varied both in nutrient composition and water stable isotope ratios, medium to spore enrichment in carbon isotopes was 0.3 ± 2.0% (parts per thousand), and in nitrogen, 4.5 ± 0.7%. We achieved mass balance for the contribution of hydrogen isotopes from nutrients (70%) and water (30%) to spores in independent experiments by varying the isotope ratios of nutrients or water. A model was derived for predicting the isotope ratio values of spores from those in nutrients and water.

Author Information

Kreuzer-Martin, HW
University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
Chesson, LA
University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
Lott, MJ
University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah IsoForensics, Inc., Salt Lake City, Utah
Dorigan, JV
Central Intelligene Agency, Washington, DC
Ehleringer, JR
University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah IsoForensics, Inc., Salt Lake City, Utah
Pages: 7
Price: $25.00
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Stock #: JFS2003226
ISSN: 0022-1198
DOI: 10.1520/JFS2003226