Scientists seeking the genetic origins of the anthrax unleashed in recent attacks are exploring a scientific shadowland familiar to only a handful of molecular biologists, veterinary medical specialists and military biotechnicians, where the state of the art is itself a state secret.
In laboratories from New Mexico to Maryland, government and university researchers for the last week have employed the remarkable power--and confronted the limitations--of forensic molecular biology as they seek to determine where the anthrax came from.
With techniques unheard of even a few years ago in public health circles, researchers are attempting to read the cryptic biochemical signature of anthrax spores, in the hope they can find a clue that could lead to the bioterrorists who mailed the microbes to unsuspecting victims.
The scientists also can test the powder that has been mixed with the anthrax spores to see if it has any characteristics of known anthrax weapon programs. By examining the particles, they also can try to determine the degree of sophistication of the operation that produced the spores.
Investigators believe that the same strain of anthrax was used in three attacks in New York, Washington and Florida. That suggests the spores came from the same source. So far they are reluctant to say how they reached that conclusion or what it may mean for linking the spores to suspects.
No one directly involved in the scientific effort will discuss this criminal investigation of a microbe in any but the broadest terms. The leading academic experts in the field will not even acknowledge officially that they are working on the investigation.
But expertise about anthrax is concentrated in only a few facilities in the United States, so it is not difficult to know the outline of the work being done and where it is taking place.
Initial Screening Is State-Level Work
Initial screening of the anthrax spores is the work of state public health experts in areas where the outbreaks were detected. They subject the bacteria to a variety of conventional antibody tests that can determine whether anthrax is involved in an attack.
"This laboratory has been completely commandeered by anthrax in the past two weeks," said Florida state public health biologist Paul Fiorella. "We put our emphasis on detection and identification of anthrax, but not on identifying strains."
