PUBLIC HEALTH PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE
Using MicrobeNet to Enhance
Biothreat Agent Detection
2019 Preparedness Summit
For the 20th anniversary, APHL and CDC are
leading an initiative to highlight the role and
success of the LRN, especially as it pertains to
partnerships in biological, chemical, radiological
and emerging threat detection and response.
The 2019 Preparedness Summit in St. Louis,
MO, co-sponsored by APHL, provided a forum
for public health and emergency preparedness
professionals to network, share current
information on preparedness collaborations and
emerging technologies, share model practices,
and discuss solutions to ongoing challenges.
At this year’s Summit, APHL hosted three LRN
sessions covering everything from laboratory
testing capacity and capabilities to partnerships
with clinical laboratories, FBI, National Guard
Bureau Civil Support Teams and other first
responders. n
by Robert Nickla, RBP, M(ASCP), LRN coordinator, Oregon State Public Health Laboratory
and Samuel Abrams, MPH, PMP, specialist, Public Health Preparedness and Response
providing a laboratory network essential
for statewide emergency preparedness
and response, MLS also plays a key role
in detecting emerging infectious disease
outbreaks.
The Florida Bureau of Public Health
Laboratories (BPHL), with LRN member
laboratories in Jacksonville, Tampa,
and Miami, utilized their network of
laboratories to respond to the Zika virus
outbreak in 2016. Florida was the first
state to report local transmission of Zika
virus. However, by this time, the Florida
BPHL had already implemented laboratory
testing capabilities and worked with
the health department on mitigation
programs to combat the virus spreading.
Within six months Florida was declared
Zika free. Communication among the
laboratories in Florida contributed to
the successful coordination of efforts to
eliminate the threat of Zika in the state.
Part of LRN’s success over the last 20
years’ in being well equipped to respond
to threats, lie in strong partnerships. By
maintaining partnerships across multiple
sectors, the LRN can continue to meet
new, challenging demands, as threats
continue to evolve. n
The US Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) curates and provides
a free online database containing a
variety of identification information
for pathogens that are not commonly
encountered in laboratory diagnostic
testing. Known as MicrobeNet, the
database was established by CDC in
2013 to assist public health laboratories
(PHLs) and sentinel clinical laboratories
with diagnostic capabilities and species
identifications, and is updated monthly.
MicrobeNet is a robust and powerful
online tool that can provide laboratorians
the capability option to search for species
identification assistance based on genetic
sequence (16s ribosomal), phenotype
biochemical profiles, or by real time
protein classification profiles, the latter
of which is generated by matrix-assisted
laser desorption/ionization – time of
flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS)
technology.
MicrobeNet as a Resource
MicrobeNet provides a unique, expansive
resource that many laboratorians are now
learning about. In addition to having an
easily searchable database, individuals
are able to submit their MALDI-TOF MS
system read files to compare against
MicrobeNet. In instances where PHL
MALDI-TOF MS software libraries return
an inconclusive match, the protein profile
can be submitted online to MicrobeNet
and compared against the CDC’s libraries.
Within a few moments the user will
be provided the best matches for their
sample, which may help with specific
identification of a potential biothreat
pathogen. MicrobeNet is intended for use
by PHLs, clinical laboratories and research
laboratories worldwide.
Why Use MicrobeNet?
Among the countless number of samples
processed monthly, both PHLs and
clinical laboratories may encounter
rare or emerging pathogens, and
routinely encounter potential biothreat
agents. MALDI-TOF instruments are
becoming common in the microbiology
laboratory and although laboratories
continue to implement the use of
MALDI-TOF MS technology for specimen
identification, the software libraries used
for identification are often limited in
their capability and adding additional
libraries can be cost prohibitive or not
yet available. Typically, a laboratory only
utilizes the MALDI-TOF library that is
provided from their instrumentation
manufacturer. MicrobeNet consists of the
manufacturers’ database, but also offers
an increased database that is comprised
of a merged library of the manufacturers’
entries plus the entries that CDC has
added to their own connected library. The
enhanced MicrobeNet library provides a
free resource that is fast, expansive and
highly accurate, allowing a laboratorian
to further speciate their sample and
determine whether a biothreat agent
or near-neighbor is likely contained
within the sample. This enhanced
library detection assistance can provide
an increase in accuracy identification
matching results, and can help
decrease the amount of time a clinical
laboratory spends handling and testing a
potentially significant pathogen, such as
a biothreat agent rule-out. The increased
identification efficiency leads towards
safer laboratories with fewer exposure
potentials, and ultimately better patient
outcomes with faster and more accurate
results. n
DIGITAL EXTRA:
Read about how the State Hygienic
Laboratory at the University of Iowa uses
MicrobeNet.
PublicHealthLabs
@APHL
APHL.org
Spring 2019 LAB MATTERS
33