Project Number
Convenors
Chaired by Dr. Kevin Towner
(University Hospital, Public Health Laboratory, Nottingham, UK)
Abstract
Rapid molecular identification has become essential in monitoring the geographical spread of virulent pathogens that cause epidemics or that have become resistant to antibiotics. The development of typing methods has made such molecular identification possible, but so far the task has been hampered by the use of techniques that are non standard, and incapable of being reproduced by different laboratories. As a result the identification can often only be performed by central reference laboratories, leading to delays which can jeopardise the whole monitoring process, as well as introducting risks in transporting the samples.
To overcome these difficulties, standard computer assisted techniques that allow numerous complex DNA fingerprint profiles to be identified rapidly in a consistent way need to be developed. It is the lack of standards in this arena for example in data generation, entry and retrieval, that has made it difficult to reproduce tests and compare results from different laboratories. The primary task of this ESF Network is to develop the necessary computer based identification methods with access to a standard DNA fingerprint database.
Duration
3 years, from January 2000 to December 2002.
