1
|
Stephens KM, Barta R, Fleming K, Perez JC, Wu SF, Snedecor J, Holt CL, LaRue B, Budowle B. Developmental validation of the ForenSeq MainstAY kit, MiSeq FGx sequencing system and ForenSeq Universal Analysis Software. Forensic Sci Int Genet 2023; 64:102851. [PMID: 36907074 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsigen.2023.102851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
For human identification purposes, forensic genetics has primarily relied upon a core set of autosomal (and to a lesser extent Y chromosome) short tandem repeat (STR) markers that are enriched by amplification using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) that are subsequently separated and detected using capillary electrophoresis (CE). While STR typing conducted in this manner is well-developed and robust, advances in molecular biology that have occurred over the last 15 years, in particular massively parallel sequencing (MPS) [1-7], offer certain advantages as compared to CE-based typing. First and foremost is the high throughput capacity of MPS. Current bench top high throughput sequencers enable larger batteries of markers to be multiplexed and multiple samples to be sequenced simultaneously (e.g., millions to billions of nucleotides can be sequenced in one run). Second, compared to the length-based CE approach, sequencing STRs increases discrimination power, enhances sensitivity of detection, reduces noise due to instrumentation, and improves mixture interpretation [4,8-23]. Third, since detection of STRs is based on sequence and not fluorescence, amplicons can be designed that are shorter in length and of similar lengths among loci, where possible, which can improve amplification efficiency and analysis of degraded samples. Lastly, MPS offers a single format approach that can be applied to analysis of a wide variety of genetic markers of forensic interest (e.g., STRs, mitochondrial DNA, single nucleotide polymorphisms, insertion/deletions). These features make MPS a desirable technology for casework [14,15,24,25-48]. The developmental validation of the ForenSeq MainstAY library preparation kit with the MiSeq FGx Sequencing System and ForenSeq Universal Software is reported here to assist with validation of this MPS system for casework [49]. The results show that the system is sensitive, accurate and precise, specific, and performs well with mixtures and mock case-type samples.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Richelle Barta
- Verogen, Inc., 11111 Flintkote Ave., San Diego, CA 92121, USA
| | - Keenan Fleming
- Verogen, Inc., 11111 Flintkote Ave., San Diego, CA 92121, USA
| | | | - Shan-Fu Wu
- Verogen, Inc., 11111 Flintkote Ave., San Diego, CA 92121, USA
| | - June Snedecor
- Verogen, Inc., 11111 Flintkote Ave., San Diego, CA 92121, USA
| | - Cydne L Holt
- Verogen, Inc., 11111 Flintkote Ave., San Diego, CA 92121, USA
| | - Bobby LaRue
- Verogen, Inc., 11111 Flintkote Ave., San Diego, CA 92121, USA
| | - Bruce Budowle
- University of Helsinki, Department of Forensic Medicine, Haartmaninkatu 8, P.O. Box 63, Helsinki 00014, Finland
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Gutierrez R, Roman MG, Harrel M, Hughes S, LaRue B, Houston R. Assessment of the ForenSeq mtDNA control region kit and comparison of orthogonal technologies. Forensic Sci Int Genet 2022; 59:102721. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fsigen.2022.102721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2022] [Revised: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
|
3
|
Food forensics: techniques for authenticity determination of food products. Forensic Sci Int 2022; 333:111243. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2022.111243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
|
4
|
Smart U, Cihlar JC, Mandape SN, Muenzler M, King JL, Budowle B, Woerner AE. A Continuous Statistical Phasing Framework for the Analysis of Forensic Mitochondrial DNA Mixtures. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:128. [PMID: 33498312 PMCID: PMC7909279 DOI: 10.3390/genes12020128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the benefits of quantitative data generated by massively parallel sequencing, resolving mitotypes from mixtures occurring in certain ratios remains challenging. In this study, a bioinformatic mixture deconvolution method centered on population-based phasing was developed and validated. The method was first tested on 270 in silico two-person mixtures varying in mixture proportions. An assortment of external reference panels containing information on haplotypic variation (from similar and different haplogroups) was leveraged to assess the effect of panel composition on phasing accuracy. Building on these simulations, mitochondrial genomes from the Human Mitochondrial DataBase were sourced to populate the panels and key parameter values were identified by deconvolving an additional 7290 in silico two-person mixtures. Finally, employing an optimized reference panel and phasing parameters, the approach was validated with in vitro two-person mixtures with differing proportions. Deconvolution was most accurate when the haplotypes in the mixture were similar to haplotypes present in the reference panel and when the mixture ratios were neither highly imbalanced nor subequal (e.g., 4:1). Overall, errors in haplotype estimation were largely bounded by the accuracy of the mixture's genotype results. The proposed framework is the first available approach that automates the reconstruction of complete individual mitotypes from mixtures, even in ratios that have traditionally been considered problematic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Utpal Smart
- Center for Human Identification, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp, Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA; (U.S.); (J.C.C.); (S.N.M.); (M.M.); (J.L.K.); (B.B.)
| | - Jennifer Churchill Cihlar
- Center for Human Identification, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp, Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA; (U.S.); (J.C.C.); (S.N.M.); (M.M.); (J.L.K.); (B.B.)
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA
| | - Sammed N. Mandape
- Center for Human Identification, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp, Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA; (U.S.); (J.C.C.); (S.N.M.); (M.M.); (J.L.K.); (B.B.)
| | - Melissa Muenzler
- Center for Human Identification, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp, Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA; (U.S.); (J.C.C.); (S.N.M.); (M.M.); (J.L.K.); (B.B.)
| | - Jonathan L. King
- Center for Human Identification, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp, Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA; (U.S.); (J.C.C.); (S.N.M.); (M.M.); (J.L.K.); (B.B.)
| | - Bruce Budowle
- Center for Human Identification, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp, Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA; (U.S.); (J.C.C.); (S.N.M.); (M.M.); (J.L.K.); (B.B.)
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA
| | - August E. Woerner
- Center for Human Identification, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp, Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA; (U.S.); (J.C.C.); (S.N.M.); (M.M.); (J.L.K.); (B.B.)
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Ambers A, Elwick K, Cropper ER, Brandhagen MD, Jones B, Durst J, Gilmore KK, Bruseth JE, Gill-King H. Mitochondrial DNA analysis of the putative skeletal remains of Sieur de Marle: Genetic support for anthropological assessment of biogeographic ancestry. Forensic Sci Int 2021; 320:110682. [PMID: 33461005 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2021.110682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Revised: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
In 1932, seven burials were discovered on a Texas plantation that was originally the site of a 17th-century Caddo Indian village. Of the seven excavated graves, one set of remains (an adult male) was notably buried in a manner inconsistent with traditional Caddoan burial practices and has long been purported to be the remains of Sieur de Marle (a member of the French explorer La Salle's last expedition). Diary accounts of La Salle's expedition scribe report that Sieur de Marle died along a river near an Indian village during a trek to Canada to find help for colonists left behind at the ill-fated Fort St. Louis. Additionally, two lead projectiles recovered from the grave were ballistically analyzed and determined to be consistent with ammunition used in 17th-century weaponry. In the 1980s, anthropologists requested access to the remains for study, but the skull was missing. Cranial measurements recorded in 1940 and 1962 (by two independent anthropologists) were used to investigate the ancestry of this individual; and the Giles-Elliot (G-E) discriminant function was calculated to be 18.1, within the Anglo-European range. Dietary isotope testing on non-cranial skeletal elements determined that this unknown male's diet was rich in animal/marine protein sources, which differs appreciably from Caddo Indian populations of that time period. In order to genetically assess this individual's biogeographic ancestry and to provide further support that this individual is of European descent, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequencing was performed using the Applied Biosystems™ Precision ID mtDNA Whole Genome Panel. mtDNA sequencing of multiple sections from two different long bones yielded compiled results consistent with either Haplogroup H or R, both predominantly European mtDNA haplogroups. Further anthropological calculations were conducted using cranial measurements, FORDISC™ software, and discriminant function analysis. Two-way, four-way, and multigroup discriminant function analyses further classify this set of unidentified remains as being White (European) in origin, with posterior probabilities of 0.999, 0.881 and 0.986, respectively. Combined with historical records of Sieur de Marle's death, as well as overlays of historical and contemporary maps which demonstrate that the plantation site aligns with Joutel's diary accounts of de Marle's burial, these collective results support that these remains are of a European male and may possibly belong to this prominent member of La Salle's expedition team.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Angie Ambers
- Center for Human Identification, Research and Development Unit, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, USA; Forensic Science Department, Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences, University of New Haven, West Haven, CT, USA; Henry C. Lee Institute of Forensic Science, West Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Kyleen Elwick
- Federal Bureau of Investigation Laboratory Division, Research and Support Unit, Visiting Scientist Program, Quantico, VA, USA
| | - Emily R Cropper
- Federal Bureau of Investigation Laboratory Division, Research and Support Unit, Visiting Scientist Program, Quantico, VA, USA
| | - Michael D Brandhagen
- Federal Bureau of Investigation Laboratory Division, DNA Support Unit, Quantico, VA, USA
| | - Bradford Jones
- Texas Historical Commission, Archaeology Division, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Jeffrey Durst
- Texas Historical Commission, Archaeology Division, Austin, TX, USA
| | | | - James E Bruseth
- Texas Historical Commission, Archaeology Division, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Harrell Gill-King
- Center for Human Identification, Forensic Anthropology Unit, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Cihlar JC, Amory C, Lagacé R, Roth C, Parson W, Budowle B. Developmental Validation of a MPS Workflow with a PCR-Based Short Amplicon Whole Mitochondrial Genome Panel. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:E1345. [PMID: 33202822 PMCID: PMC7709034 DOI: 10.3390/genes11111345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Revised: 10/21/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
For the adoption of massively parallel sequencing (MPS) systems by forensic laboratories, validation studies on specific workflows are needed to support the feasibility of implementation and the reliability of the data they produce. As such, the whole mitochondrial genome sequencing methodology-Precision ID mtDNA Whole Genome Panel, Ion Chef, Ion S5, and Converge-has been subjected to a variety of developmental validation studies. These validation studies were completed in accordance with the Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods (SWGDAM) validation guidelines and assessed reproducibility, repeatability, accuracy, sensitivity, specificity to human DNA, and ability to analyze challenging (e.g., mixed, degraded, or low quantity) samples. Intra- and inter-run replicates produced an average maximum pairwise difference in variant frequency of 1.2%. Concordance with data generated with traditional Sanger sequencing and an orthogonal MPS platform methodology was used to assess accuracy, and generation of complete and concordant haplotypes at DNA input levels as low as 37.5 pg of nuclear DNA or 187.5 mitochondrial genome copies illustrated the sensitivity of the system. Overall, data presented herein demonstrate that highly accurate and reproducible results were generated for a variety of sample qualities and quantities, supporting the reliability of this specific whole genome mitochondrial DNA MPS system for analysis of forensic biological evidence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Churchill Cihlar
- Center for Human Identification, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA;
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA
| | - Christina Amory
- Institute of Legal Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria; (C.A.); (W.P.)
| | - Robert Lagacé
- Human Identification Group, Thermo Fisher Scientific, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA; (R.L.); (C.R.)
| | - Chantal Roth
- Human Identification Group, Thermo Fisher Scientific, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA; (R.L.); (C.R.)
| | - Walther Parson
- Institute of Legal Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria; (C.A.); (W.P.)
- Forensic Science Program, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Bruce Budowle
- Center for Human Identification, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA;
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Cihlar JC, Peters D, Strobl C, Parson W, Budowle B. The lot-to-lot variability in the mitochondrial genome of controls. Forensic Sci Int Genet 2020; 47:102298. [PMID: 32464353 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsigen.2020.102298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2020] [Revised: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Current research in the biomedical field has illustrated how cell lines used as reference standards can change over time and, more importantly, can affect research and diagnostic results obtained from these cell lines. With the use of increasingly sensitive and highly resolving technologies (e.g., massively parallel sequencing), forensic scientists must be aware of and account for potential variability in the cell lines used as controls in their validation studies and day-to-day casework. In this study, multiple lot numbers from four commonly-used control cell line DNAs were sequenced with massively parallel sequencing on the Ion S5. The variability among these different lots was evaluated, and the effect on forensic laboratory work discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Churchill Cihlar
- Center for Human Identification, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA; Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA.
| | - Dixie Peters
- Center for Human Identification, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA
| | - Christina Strobl
- Institute of Legal Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Walther Parson
- Institute of Legal Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria; Forensic Science Program, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Bruce Budowle
- Center for Human Identification, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA; Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Bruijns B, Tiggelaar R, Gardeniers H. Massively parallel sequencing techniques for forensics: A review. Electrophoresis 2018; 39:2642-2654. [PMID: 30101986 PMCID: PMC6282972 DOI: 10.1002/elps.201800082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2018] [Revised: 07/07/2018] [Accepted: 07/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
DNA sequencing, starting with Sanger's chain termination method in 1977 and evolving into the next generation sequencing (NGS) techniques of today that employ massively parallel sequencing (MPS), has become essential in application areas such as biotechnology, virology, and medical diagnostics. Reflected by the growing number of articles published over the last 2-3 years, these techniques have also gained attention in the forensic field. This review contains a brief description of first, second, and third generation sequencing techniques, and focuses on the recent developments in human DNA analysis applicable in the forensic field. Relevance to the forensic analysis is that besides generation of standard STR-profiles, DNA repeats can also be sequenced to look for polymorphisms. Furthermore, additional SNPs can be sequenced to acquire information on ancestry, paternity or phenotype. The current MPS systems are also very helpful in cases where only a limited amount of DNA or highly degraded DNA has been secured from a crime scene. If enough autosomal DNA is not present, mitochondrial DNA can be sequenced for maternal lineage analysis. These developments clearly demonstrate that the use of NGS will grow into an indispensable tool for forensic science.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brigitte Bruijns
- Mesoscale Chemical Systems, MESA Institute for NanotechnologyUniversity of TwenteEnschedeThe Netherlands
- Life ScienceEngineering & DesignSaxion University of Applied SciencesEnschedeThe Netherlands
| | - Roald Tiggelaar
- Mesoscale Chemical Systems, MESA Institute for NanotechnologyUniversity of TwenteEnschedeThe Netherlands
- NanoLab cleanroom, MESA Institute for NanotechnologyUniversity of TwenteEnschedeThe Netherlands
| | - Han Gardeniers
- Mesoscale Chemical Systems, MESA Institute for NanotechnologyUniversity of TwenteEnschedeThe Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Current and emerging tools for the recovery of genetic information from post mortem samples: New directions for disaster victim identification. Forensic Sci Int Genet 2018; 37:270-282. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fsigen.2018.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2018] [Revised: 08/27/2018] [Accepted: 08/27/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
|