Typing of <i>Yersinia pestis</i> in Challenging Forensic Samples Through Targeted Next-Generation Sequencing of Multilocus Variable Number Tandem Repeat Regions.

ABSTRACT: Microbial forensics involves analyzing biological evidence to evaluate weaponized microorganisms or their toxins. This study aimed to detect and type Yersinia pestis from four simulated forensic samples-human plasma diluted in phosphate-buffered saline (#24-2), tomato juice (#24-5), grape juice (#24-8), and a surgical mask (#24-10). Notably, samples #24-10 may have contained live bacteria other than Y. pestis. A real-time polymerase chain reaction confirmed the presence of Y. pestis in all samples; however, whole-genome sequencing (WGS) coverage of the Y. pestis chromosome ranged from 0.46% to 97.1%, largely due to host DNA interference and low abundance. To address these limitations and enable strain-level identification, we designed a hybridization-based targe

SUBMITTER: Yun H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12566482 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature