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Blacksell SD, Dhawan S, Kusumoto M, Le KK, Summermatter K, O'Keefe J, Kozlovac J, Almuhairi SS, Sendow I, Scheel CM, Ahumibe A, Masuku ZM, Bennett AM, Kojima K, Harper DR, Hamilton K. The Biosafety Research Road Map: The Search for Evidence to Support Practices in the Laboratory- Bacillus anthracis and Brucella melitensis. APPLIED BIOSAFETY 2023; 28:72-86. [PMID: 37342513 PMCID: PMC10278026 DOI: 10.1089/apb.2022.0042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/23/2023]
Abstract
Introduction Brucella melitensis and Bacillus anthracis are zoonoses transmitted from animals and animal products. Scientific information is provided in this article to support biosafety precautions necessary to protect laboratory workers and individuals who are potentially exposed to these pathogens in the workplace or other settings, and gaps in information are also reported. There is a lack of information on the appropriate effective concentration for many chemical disinfectants for this agent. Controversies related to B. anthracis include infectious dose for skin and gastrointestinal infections, proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the slaughter of infected animals, and handling of contaminated materials. B. melitensis is reported to have the highest number of laboratory-acquired infections (LAIs) to date in laboratory workers. Methods A literature search was conducted to identify potential gaps in biosafety and focused on five main sections including the route of inoculation/modes of transmission, infectious dose, LAIs, containment releases, and disinfection and decontamination strategies. Results Scientific literature currently lacks information on the effective concentration of many chemical disinfectants for this agent and in the variety of matrices where it may be found. Controversies related to B. anthracis include infectious dose for skin and gastrointestinal infections, proper use of PPE during the slaughter of infected animals, and handling contaminated materials. Discussion Clarified vulnerabilities based on specific scientific evidence will contribute to the prevention of unwanted and unpredictable infections, improving the biosafety processes and procedures for laboratory staff and other professionals such as veterinarians, individuals associated with the agricultural industry, and those working with susceptible wildlife species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stuart D. Blacksell
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Research Medicine Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, Nuffield Department of Medicine Research Building, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Sandhya Dhawan
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Research Medicine Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Marina Kusumoto
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Research Medicine Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Kim Khanh Le
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Research Medicine Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | - Joseph O'Keefe
- Ministry for Primary Industries, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Joseph Kozlovac
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Indrawati Sendow
- Research Center for Veterinary Science, National Research and Innovation Agency, Indonesia
| | - Christina M. Scheel
- WHO Collaborating Center for Biosafety and Biosecurity, Office of the Associate Director for Laboratory Science, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Anthony Ahumibe
- Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Abuja, Nigeria
| | - Zibusiso M. Masuku
- National Institute for Communicable Diseases of the National Health Laboratory Services, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Allan M. Bennett
- UK Health Security Agency, Porton Down, Salisbury, United Kingdom
| | - Kazunobu Kojima
- Department of Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness and Prevention, World Health Organization (WHO), Geneva, Switzerland
| | - David R. Harper
- The Royal Institute of International Affairs, London, United Kingdom
| | - Keith Hamilton
- World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), Paris, France
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Andryukov BG, Karpenko AA, Lyapun IN. Learning from Nature: Bacterial Spores as a Target for Current Technologies in Medicine (Review). Sovrem Tekhnologii Med 2021; 12:105-122. [PMID: 34795986 PMCID: PMC8596247 DOI: 10.17691/stm2020.12.3.13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The capability of some representatives of Clostridium spp. and Bacillus spp. genera to form spores in extreme external conditions long ago became a subject of medico-biological investigations. Bacterial spores represent dormant cellular forms of gram-positive bacteria possessing a high potential of stability and the capability to endure extreme conditions of their habitat. Owing to these properties, bacterial spores are recognized as the most stable systems on the planet, and spore-forming microorganisms became widely spread in various ecosystems. Spore-forming bacteria have been attracted increased interest for years due to their epidemiological danger. Bacterial spores may be in the quiescent state for dozens or hundreds of years but after they appear in the favorable conditions of a human or animal organism, they turn into vegetative forms causing an infectious process. The greatest threat among the pathogenic spore-forming bacteria is posed by the causative agents of anthrax (B. anthracis), food toxicoinfection (B. cereus), pseudomembranous colitis (C. difficile), botulism (C. botulinum), gas gangrene (C. perfringens). For the effective prevention of severe infectious diseases first of all it is necessary to study the molecular structure of bacterial spores and the biochemical mechanisms of sporulation and to develop innovative methods of detection and disinfection of dormant cells. There is another side of the problem: the necessity to investigate exo- and endospores from the standpoint of obtaining similar artificially synthesized models in order to use them in the latest medical technologies for the development of thermostable vaccines, delivery of biologically active substances to the tissues and intracellular structures. In recent years, bacterial spores have become an interesting object for the exploration from the point of view of a new paradigm of unicellular microbiology in order to study microbial heterogeneity by means of the modern analytical tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- B G Andryukov
- Leading Researcher, Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology; G.P. Somov Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, 1 Selskaya St., Vladivostok, 690087, Russia; Professor, Department of Fundamental Sciences; Far Eastern Federal University, 10 Village Ayaks, Island Russkiy, Vladivostok, 690922, Russia
| | - A A Karpenko
- Senior Researcher, Laboratory of Cell Biophysics; A.V. Zhirmunsky National Scientific Center of Marine Biology, Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 17 Palchevskogo St., Vladivostok, 690041, Russia
| | - I N Lyapun
- Researcher, Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology G.P. Somov Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, 1 Selskaya St., Vladivostok, 690087, Russia
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Wilson L, Iqbal KM, Simmons-Ehrhardt T, Bertino MF, Shah MR, Yadavalli VK, Ehrhardt CJ. Customizable 3D printed diffusion chambers for studies of bacterial pathogen phenotypes in complex environments. J Microbiol Methods 2019; 162:8-15. [PMID: 31085208 DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2019.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2019] [Revised: 05/03/2019] [Accepted: 05/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Gaps in our understanding of the natural ecology and survival mechanisms of pathogenic bacteria in complex microenvironments such as soil typically occur due to the difficulty in characterizing biochemical profiles and morphological characteristics as they exist in environmental samples. Conversely, accurate simulation of the abiotic and biotic chemistries of soil habitats within the laboratory is often a significant challenge. Herein, we present the fabrication of customizable and precisely engineered 3D printed diffusion chambers that can be used to incubate bacterial cultures directly in soil matrices within a controlled laboratory experiment, and study the dynamics between bacterial cells and soil components. As part of the design process, different types of 3D printing materials were evaluated for ease of sterilization, structural integrity throughout the experiment, as well as cost/ease of production. To demonstrate potential applications for environmental studies, the diffusion chamber was used to incubate cultures of Bacillus cereus T-strain and Escherichia coli strain O157 directly in soil matrices. We show that the chamber facilitates diffusion of abiotic/biotic components of the soil with target cells without contamination from in situ microbial communities, while allowing for single cell and ensemble level phenotypic analyses of bacteria cultured with and without soil matrices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lyddia Wilson
- Department of Forensic Science, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284, United States of America
| | | | - Terrie Simmons-Ehrhardt
- Department of Forensic Science, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284, United States of America
| | - Massimo F Bertino
- Department of Physics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284, United States of America
| | | | - Vamsi K Yadavalli
- Department of Chemical and Life Science Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284, United States of America
| | - Christopher J Ehrhardt
- Department of Forensic Science, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284, United States of America.
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Wood JP, Adrion AC. Review of Decontamination Techniques for the Inactivation of Bacillus anthracis and Other Spore-Forming Bacteria Associated with Building or Outdoor Materials. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2019; 53:4045-4062. [PMID: 30901213 PMCID: PMC6547374 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b05274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Since the intentional release of Bacillus anthracis spores through the U.S. Postal Service in the fall of 2001, research and development related to decontamination for this biological agent have increased substantially. This review synthesizes the advances made relative to B. anthracis spore decontamination science and technology since approximately 2002, referencing the open scientific literature and publicly available, well-documented scientific reports. In the process of conducting this review, scientific knowledge gaps have also been identified. This review focuses primarily on techniques that are commercially available and that could potentially be used in the large-scale decontamination of buildings and other structures, as well as outdoor environments. Since 2002, the body of scientific data related to decontamination and microbial sterilization has grown substantially, especially in terms of quantifying decontamination efficacy as a function of several factors. Specifically, progress has been made in understanding how decontaminant chemistry, the materials the microorganisms are associated with, environmental factors, and microbiological methods quantitatively impact spore inactivation. While advancement has been made in the past 15 years to further the state of the science in the inactivation of bacterial spores in a decontamination scenario, further research is warranted to close the scientific gaps that remain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph P. Wood
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Offce of Research and Development, National Homeland Security Research Center, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina United States
- Corresponding Author: Phone: (919) 541-5029;
| | - Alden Charles Adrion
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Offce of Research and Development, National Homeland Security Research Center, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina United States
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education Postdoctoral Fellow, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830, United States
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Germination, Outgrowth, and Vegetative-Growth Kinetics of Dry-Heat-Treated Individual Spores of Bacillus Species. Appl Environ Microbiol 2018; 84:AEM.02618-17. [PMID: 29330188 DOI: 10.1128/aem.02618-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2017] [Accepted: 01/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA damage kills dry-heated spores of Bacillus subtilis, but dry-heat-treatment effects on spore germination and outgrowth have not been studied. This is important, since if dry-heat-killed spores germinate and undergo outgrowth, toxic proteins could be synthesized. Here, Raman spectroscopy and differential interference contrast microscopy were used to study germination and outgrowth of individual dry-heat-treated B. subtilis and Bacillus megaterium spores. The major findings in this work were as follows: (i) spores dry-heat-treated at 140°C for 20 min lost nearly all viability but retained their Ca2+-dipicolinic acid (CaDPA) depot; (ii) in most cases, dry-heat treatment increased the average times and variability of all major germination events in B. subtilis spore germination with nutrient germinants or CaDPA, and in one nutrient germination event with B. megaterium spores; (iii) B. subtilis spore germination with dodecylamine, which activates the spore CaDPA release channel, was unaffected by dry-heat treatment; (iv) these results indicate that dry-heat treatment likely damages spore proteins important in nutrient germinant recognition and cortex peptidoglycan hydrolysis, but not CaDPA release itself; and (v) analysis of single spores incubated on nutrient-rich agar showed that while dry-heat-treated spores that are dead can complete germination, they cannot proceed into outgrowth and thus not to vegetative growth. The results of this study provide new information on the effects of dry heat on bacterial spores and indicate that dry-heat sterilization regimens should produce spores that cannot outgrow and thus cannot synthesize potentially dangerous proteins.IMPORTANCE Much research has shown that high-temperature dry heat is a promising means for the inactivation of spores on medical devices and spacecraft decontamination. Dry heat is known to kill Bacillus subtilis spores by DNA damage. However, knowledge about the effects of dry-heat treatment on spore germination and outgrowth is limited, especially at the single spore level. In the current work, Raman spectroscopy and differential interference contrast microscopy were used to analyze CaDPA levels in and kinetics of nutrient- and non-nutrient germination of multiple individual dry-heat-treated B. subtilis and Bacillus megaterium spores that were largely dead. The outgrowth and subsequent cell division of these germinated but dead dry-heat-treated spores were also examined. The knowledge obtained in this study will help understand the effects of dry heat on spores both on Earth and in space, and indicates that dry heat can be safely used for sterilization purposes.
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Wang J, Huang S, Fu N, Jeantet R, Chen XD. Thermal Aggregation of Calcium-Fortified Skim Milk Enhances Probiotic Protection during Convective Droplet Drying. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2016; 64:6003-6010. [PMID: 27420726 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.6b02205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Probiotic bacteria have been reported to confer benefits on hosts when delivered in an adequate dose. Spray-drying is expected to produce dried and microencapsulated probiotic products due to its low production cost and high energy efficiency. The bottleneck in probiotic application addresses the thermal and dehydration-related inactivation of bacteria during process. A protective drying matrix was designed by modifying skim milk with the principle of calcium-induced protein thermal aggregation. The well-defined single-droplet drying technique was used to monitor the droplet-particle conversion and the protective effect of this modified Ca-aggregated milk on Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG. The Ca-aggregated milk exhibited a higher drying efficiency and superior protection on L. rhamnosus GG during thermal convective drying. The mechanism was explained by the aggregation in milk, causing the lower binding of water in the serum phase and, conversely, local concentrated milk aggregates involved in bacteria entrapment in the course of drying. This work may open new avenues for the development of probiotic products with high bacterial viability and calcium enrichment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Wang
- Suzhou Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Engineering, School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Material Science, Soochow University , Suzhou 215123, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Song Huang
- Suzhou Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Engineering, School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Material Science, Soochow University , Suzhou 215123, Jiangsu Province, China
- STLO, Agrocampus Ouest, INRA , 35000 Rennes, France
| | - Nan Fu
- Suzhou Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Engineering, School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Material Science, Soochow University , Suzhou 215123, Jiangsu Province, China
| | | | - Xiao Dong Chen
- Suzhou Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Engineering, School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Material Science, Soochow University , Suzhou 215123, Jiangsu Province, China
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Xu S, Harvey A, Barbieri R, Reuter T, Stanford K, Amoako KK, Selinger LB, McAllister TA. Inactivation of Bacillus anthracis Spores during Laboratory-Scale Composting of Feedlot Cattle Manure. Front Microbiol 2016; 7:806. [PMID: 27303388 PMCID: PMC4882334 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.00806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2016] [Accepted: 05/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Anthrax outbreaks in livestock have social, economic and health implications, altering farmer’s livelihoods, impacting trade and posing a zoonotic risk. Our study investigated the survival of Bacillus thuringiensis and B. anthracis spores sporulated at 15, 20, or 37°C, over 33 days of composting. Spores (∼7.5 log10 CFU g-1) were mixed with manure and composted in laboratory scale composters. After 15 days, the compost was mixed and returned to the composter for a second cycle. Temperatures peaked at 71°C on day 2 and remained ≥55°C for an average of 7 days in the first cycle, but did not exceed 55°C in the second. For B. thuringiensis, spores generated at 15 and 21°C exhibited reduced (P < 0.05) viability of 2.7 and 2.6 log10 CFU g-1 respectively, as compared to a 0.6 log10 CFU g-1 reduction for those generated at 37°C. For B. anthracis, sporulation temperature did not impact spore survival as there was a 2.5, 2.2, and 2.8 log10 CFU g-1 reduction after composting for spores generated at 15, 21, and 37°C, respectively. For both species, spore viability declined more rapidly (P < 0.05) in the first as compared to the second composting cycle. Our findings suggest that the duration of thermophilic exposure (≥55°C) is the main factor influencing survival of B. anthracis spores in compost. As sporulation temperature did not influence survival of B. anthracis, composting may lower the viability of spores associated with carcasses infected with B. anthracis over a range of sporulation temperatures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanwei Xu
- Lethbridge Research and Develeopment Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge AB, Canada
| | - Amanda Harvey
- Lethbridge Research and Develeopment Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, LethbridgeAB, Canada; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, LethbridgeAB, Canada
| | - Ruth Barbieri
- Lethbridge Research and Develeopment Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge AB, Canada
| | - Tim Reuter
- Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, Lethbridge AB, Canada
| | - Kim Stanford
- Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, Lethbridge AB, Canada
| | - Kingsley K Amoako
- Lethbridge Laboratory, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, National Centres for Animal Disease, Lethbridge AB, Canada
| | - Leonard B Selinger
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge AB, Canada
| | - Tim A McAllister
- Lethbridge Research and Develeopment Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge AB, Canada
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Nanomechanical Characterization of Bacillus anthracis Spores by Atomic Force Microscopy. Appl Environ Microbiol 2016; 82:2988-2999. [PMID: 26969703 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00431-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2016] [Accepted: 03/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED The study of structures and properties of bacterial spores is important to understanding spore formation and biological responses to environmental stresses. While significant progress has been made over the years in elucidating the multilayer architecture of spores, the mechanical properties of the spore interior are not known. Here, we present a thermal atomic force microscopy (AFM) study of the nanomechanical properties of internal structures of Bacillus anthracis spores. We developed a nanosurgical sectioning method in which a stiff diamond AFM tip was used to cut an individual spore, exposing its internal structure, and a soft AFM tip was used to image and characterize the spore interior on the nanometer scale. We observed that the elastic modulus and adhesion force, including their thermal responses at elevated temperatures, varied significantly in different regions of the spore section. Our AFM images indicated that the peptidoglycan (PG) cortex of Bacillus anthracis spores consisted of rod-like nanometer-sized structures that are oriented in the direction perpendicular to the spore surface. Our findings may shed light on the spore architecture and properties. IMPORTANCE A nanosurgical AFM method was developed that can be used to probe the structure and properties of the spore interior. The previously unknown ultrastructure of the PG cortex of Bacillus anthracis spores was observed to consist of nanometer-sized rod-like structures that are oriented in the direction perpendicular to the spore surface. The variations in the nanomechanical properties of the spore section were largely correlated with its chemical composition. Different components of the spore materials showed different thermal responses at elevated temperatures.
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Wang C, Stanciu CE, Ehrhardt CJ, Yadavalli VK. Evaluation of whole cell fixation methods for the analysis of nanoscale surface features of Yersinia pestis KIM. J Microsc 2016; 263:260-7. [PMID: 27527609 DOI: 10.1111/jmi.12387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2015] [Revised: 01/13/2016] [Accepted: 01/19/2016] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Manipulation of viable Yersinia pestis (etiologic agent of plague) in the laboratory usually necessitates elevated biosafety and biocontainment procedures, even with avirulent or vaccine strains. To facilitate downstream biochemical or physical analyses in a Biosafety Level 1 laboratory environment, effective inactivation without affecting its intrinsic properties is critical. Here, we report on the morphological and biochemical changes to Y. pestis surfaces following four different fixation methods that render the cells nonviable. The results, obtained at the single cell level, demonstrate that methanol inactivation is best able to preserve bacterial morphology and bioactivity, enabling subsequent analysis. This nanoscale evaluation of the effects of inactivation on cell morphology and surface bioactivity may provide a crucial preparatory approach to study virulent pathogens in the lab setting using high-resolution microscopic techniques such as atomic force microscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Wang
- Department of Chemical and Life Science Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, U.S.A
| | - C E Stanciu
- Department of Forensic Science, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, U.S.A
| | - C J Ehrhardt
- Department of Forensic Science, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, U.S.A
| | - V K Yadavalli
- Department of Chemical and Life Science Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, U.S.A
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WANG CONGZHOU, STANCIU CRISTINA, EHRHARDT CHRISTOPHERJ, YADAVALLI VAMSIK. Morphological and mechanical imaging of Bacillus cereus
spore formation at the nanoscale. J Microsc 2015; 258:49-58. [DOI: 10.1111/jmi.12214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2014] [Accepted: 12/11/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- CONGZHOU WANG
- Department of Chemical and Life Science Engineering; Virginia Commonwealth University; Richmond Virginia 23284 U.S.A
| | - CRISTINA STANCIU
- Department of Forensic Science; Virginia Commonwealth University; Richmond Virginia 23284 U.S.A
| | - CHRISTOPHER J. EHRHARDT
- Department of Forensic Science; Virginia Commonwealth University; Richmond Virginia 23284 U.S.A
| | - VAMSI K. YADAVALLI
- Department of Chemical and Life Science Engineering; Virginia Commonwealth University; Richmond Virginia 23284 U.S.A
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