TABLE 2.

Summary of areas to address further for improving microbial forensics capabilities

Area(s) recommended for further exploration
Effective approaches for distinguishing between an intentional and natural event
End-to-end evaluation of past cases (e.g., lessons learned from emerging disease outbreaks)
Sample collection, handling, and preservation protocols
Extraction protocols
Validation of analytical and interpretive protocols
Microbial diversity
Bioinformatics toolbox
Quantitative conclusions
Databases of genomes and signatures (of pathogens and near neighbors) and of methods (genetic, chemical, physical)
Unit process analysis of plausible recipes for production
Use of surrogates
Effects of decontamination on evidence
Systematic procedures for selecting and ordering analytical methods (decision trees)
Host immune responses and pharmacokinetics of prophylactic drugs