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Macleod SL, Super EH, Batt LJ, Yates E, Jones ST. Plate-Based High-Throughput Fluorescence Assay for Assessing Enveloped Virus Integrity. Biomacromolecules 2024; 25:4925-4933. [PMID: 39040021 PMCID: PMC11323024 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.4c00358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2024] [Revised: 06/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024]
Abstract
Viruses are a considerable threat to global health and place major burdens on economies worldwide. Manufactured viruses are also being widely used as delivery agents to treat (gene therapies) or prevent diseases (vaccines). Therefore, it is vital to study and fully understand the infectious state of viruses. Current techniques used to study viruses are often slow or nonexistent, making the development of new techniques of paramount importance. Here we present a high-throughput and robust, cell-free plate-based assay (FAIRY: Fluorescence Assay for vIRal IntegritY), capable of differentiating intact from nonintact enveloped viruses, i.e, infectious from noninfectious. Using a thiazole orange-terminated polymer, a 99% increase in fluorescence was observed between treated (heat or virucide) and nontreated. The FAIRY assay allowed for the rapid determination of the infectivity of a range of enveloped viruses, highlighting its potential as a valuable tool for the study of viruses and interventions against them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannan-Leigh Macleod
- Department
of Materials and Henry Royce Institute, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Elana H. Super
- Department
of Materials and Henry Royce Institute, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Lauren J. Batt
- Department
of Materials and Henry Royce Institute, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Eleanor Yates
- School
of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Samuel T. Jones
- Department
of Materials and Henry Royce Institute, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
- School
of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
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2
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Nodari R, Arghittu M, Bailo P, Cattaneo C, Creti R, D’Aleo F, Saegeman V, Franceschetti L, Novati S, Fernández-Rodríguez A, Verzeletti A, Farina C, Bandi C. Forensic Microbiology: When, Where and How. Microorganisms 2024; 12:988. [PMID: 38792818 PMCID: PMC11123702 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12050988] [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: 03/07/2024] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Forensic microbiology is a relatively new discipline, born in part thanks to the development of advanced methodologies for the detection, identification and characterization of microorganisms, and also in relation to the growing impact of infectious diseases of iatrogenic origin. Indeed, the increased application of medical practices, such as transplants, which require immunosuppressive treatments, and the growing demand for prosthetic installations, associated with an increasing threat of antimicrobial resistance, have led to a rise in the number of infections of iatrogenic origin, which entails important medico-legal issues. On the other hand, the possibility of detecting minimal amounts of microorganisms, even in the form of residual traces (e.g., their nucleic acids), and of obtaining gene and genomic sequences at contained costs, has made it possible to ask new questions of whether cases of death or illness might have a microbiological origin, with the possibility of also tracing the origin of the microorganisms involved and reconstructing the chain of contagion. In addition to the more obvious applications, such as those mentioned above related to the origin of iatrogenic infections, or to possible cases of infections not properly diagnosed and treated, a less obvious application of forensic microbiology concerns its use in cases of violence or violent death, where the characterization of the microorganisms can contribute to the reconstruction of the case. Finally, paleomicrobiology, e.g., the reconstruction and characterization of microorganisms in historical or even archaeological remnants, can be considered as a sister discipline of forensic microbiology. In this article, we will review these different aspects and applications of forensic microbiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riccardo Nodari
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences (DiSFeB), University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Milena Arghittu
- Analysis Laboratory, ASST Melegnano e Martesana, 20077 Vizzolo Predabissi, Italy
| | - Paolo Bailo
- Section of Legal Medicine, School of Law, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy
| | - Cristina Cattaneo
- LABANOF, Laboratory of Forensic Anthropology and Odontology, Section of Forensic Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Roberta Creti
- Antibiotic Resistance and Special Pathogens Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco D’Aleo
- Microbiology and Virology Laboratory, GOM—Grande Ospedale Metropolitano, 89124 Reggio Calabria, Italy
| | - Veroniek Saegeman
- Microbiology and Infection Control, Vitaz Hospital, 9100 Sint-Niklaas, Belgium
| | - Lorenzo Franceschetti
- LABANOF, Laboratory of Forensic Anthropology and Odontology, Section of Forensic Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Stefano Novati
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Amparo Fernández-Rodríguez
- Microbiology Department, Biology Service, Instituto Nacional de Toxicología y Ciencias Forenses, 41009 Madrid, Spain
| | - Andrea Verzeletti
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Claudio Farina
- Microbiology and Virology Laboratory, ASST Papa Giovanni XXIII, 24127 Bergamo, Italy
| | - Claudio Bandi
- Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi Paediatric Research Centre, Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy
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3
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Pandey A, Momeni O, Pandey P. Quantitative Analysis of Genomic DNA Degradation of E. coli Using Automated Gel Electrophoresis under Various Levels of Microwave Exposure. Gels 2024; 10:242. [PMID: 38667661 PMCID: PMC11049425 DOI: 10.3390/gels10040242] [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: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 03/10/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The problem that this study addresses is to understand how microwave radiation is able to degrade genomic DNA of E. coli. In addition, a comparative study was made to evaluate the suitability of a high-throughput automated electrophoresis platform for quantifying the DNA degradation under microwave radiation. Overall, this study investigated the genomic DNA degradation of E. coli under microwave radiation using automated gel electrophoresis. To examine the viable organisms and degradation of genomic DNA under microwave exposure, we used three methods: (1) post-microwave exposure, where E. coli was enumerated using modified mTEC agar method using membrane filtration technique; (2) extracted genomic DNA of microwaved sample was quantified using the Qubit method; and (3) automated gel electrophoresis, the TapeStation 4200, was used to examine the bands of extracted DNA of microwaved samples. In addition, to examine the impacts of microwaves, E. coli colonies were isolated from a fecal sample (dairy cow manure), these colonies were grown overnight to prepare fresh E. coli culture, and this culture was exposed to microwave radiation for three durations: (1) 2 min; (2) 5 min; and (3) 8 min. In general, Qubit values (ng/µL) were proportional to the results of automated gel electrophoresis, TapeStation 4200, DNA integrity numbers (DINs). Samples from exposure studies (2 min, 5 min, and 8 min) showed no viable E. coli. Initial E. coli levels (at 0 min microwave exposure) were 5 × 108 CFU/mL, and the E. coli level was reduced to a non-detectable level within 2 min of microwave exposure. The relationships between Qubit and TapeStation measurements was linear, except for when the DNA level was lower than 2 ng/µL. In 8 min of microwave exposure, E. coli DNA integrity was reduced by 61.7%, and DNA concentration was reduced by 81.6%. The overall conclusion of this study is that microwave radiation had a significant impact on the genomic DNA of E. coli, and prolonged exposure of E. coli to microwaves can thus lead to a loss of genomic DNA integrity and DNA concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditya Pandey
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA; (A.P.); (O.M.)
| | - Omeed Momeni
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA; (A.P.); (O.M.)
| | - Pramod Pandey
- Department of Population Health and Reproduction, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
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4
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Jiang S, Zhang C, Han Z, Ma W, Wang S, Huo D, Cui W, Zhai Q, Huang S, Zhang J. Native microbiome dominates over host factors in shaping the probiotic genetic evolution in the gut. NPJ Biofilms Microbiomes 2023; 9:80. [PMID: 37838684 PMCID: PMC10576824 DOI: 10.1038/s41522-023-00447-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Probiotics often acquire potentially adaptive mutations in vivo, gaining new functional traits through gut selection. While both the host and microbiome can contribute to probiotics' genetic evolution, separating the microbiome and the host's contribution to such selective pressures remains challenging. Here, we introduced germ-free (GF) and specific pathogen-free (SPF) mouse models to track how probiotic strains, i.e., Lactiplantibacillus plantarum HNU082 (Lp082) and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis V9 (BV9), genetically evolved under selection pressures derived from host factors alone and both host and microbial ecological factors. Notably, compared to the genome of a probiotic strain before consumption, the host only elicited <15 probiotic mutations in probiotic genomes that emerged in the luminal environment of GF mice, while a total of 840 mutations in Lp082 mutants and 21,579 mutations in BV9 were found in SPF mice, <0.25% of those derived from both factors that were never captured by other experimental evolution studies, indicating that keen microbial competitions exhibited the predominant evolutionary force in shaping probiotic genetic composition (>99.75%). For a given probiotic, functional genes occurring in potentially adaptive mutations induced by hosts (GF mice) were all shared with those found in mutants of SPF mice. Collectively, the native microbiome consistently drove a more rapid and divergent genetic evolution of probiotic strains in seven days of colonization than host factors did. Our study further laid a theoretical foundation for genetically engineering probiotics for better gut adaptation through in vitro artificial gut ecosystems without the selection pressures derived from host factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuaiming Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Functional Food of Hainan Province, School of Food Science and Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China
| | - Chengcheng Zhang
- School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhe Han
- Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Functional Food of Hainan Province, School of Food Science and Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China
| | - Wenyao Ma
- Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Functional Food of Hainan Province, School of Food Science and Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China
| | - Shunhe Wang
- School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Dongxue Huo
- Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Functional Food of Hainan Province, School of Food Science and Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China
| | - Weipeng Cui
- Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Functional Food of Hainan Province, School of Food Science and Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China
| | - Qixiao Zhai
- School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Shi Huang
- Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
| | - Jiachao Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Functional Food of Hainan Province, School of Food Science and Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China.
- One Health Institute, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan, 570228, China.
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5
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Chávez-Briones MDL, Jaramillo-Rangel G, Ancer-Arellano A, Ancer-Rodríguez J, Ortega-Martínez M. Identification of the Remains of an Adult Using DNA from Their Deciduous Teeth as a Reference Sample. MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2023; 59:1702. [PMID: 37893420 PMCID: PMC10608540 DOI: 10.3390/medicina59101702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
In many forensic cases, the identification of human remains is performed by comparing their genetic profile with profiles from reference samples of relatives, usually the parents. Here, we report, for the first time, the identification of the remains of an adult using DNA from the person's deciduous teeth as a reference sample. Fragments of a skeletonized and burned body were found, and a short tandem repeat (STR) profile was obtained. A woman looking for her missing son went to the authorities. When the DNA profile of the woman was compared to a database, a positive match suggested a first-degree kinship with the person to whom the remains belonged. The woman had kept three deciduous molars from her son for more than thirty years. DNA typing of dental pulp was performed. The genetic profiles obtained from the molars and those from the remains coincided in all alleles. The random match probability was 1 in 2.70 × 1021. Thus, the remains were fully identified. In the routine identification of human remains, ambiguous STR results may occur due to the presence of null alleles or other mutational events. In addition, erroneous results can be produced by false matches with close family members or even with people who are completely unrelated to the victim, such that, in some cases, a probability of paternity greater than 99.99% does not necessarily indicate biological paternity. Whenever possible, it is preferable to use reference samples from the putative victim as a source of DNA for identification.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Marta Ortega-Martínez
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon, Monterrey 64460, Mexico; (M.-d.-L.C.-B.); (G.J.-R.); (A.A.-A.); (J.A.-R.)
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6
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Dzehverovic M, Jusic B, Pilav A, Lukic T, Cakar J. Kinship analysis of skeletal remains from the Middle Ages. Forensic Sci Int Genet 2023; 63:102829. [PMID: 36669262 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsigen.2023.102829] [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: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Medieval cemeteries Klisa-Guca Gora, Alihodze and Glavica-Han Bila located in the Travnik area (Travnik, Bosnia and Herzegovina) were archaeologically examined in the period 2011-2014, revealing human skeletal remains of 11 individuals in total. Archaeological skeletal samples, previously deposited in Travnik Homeland Museum (Travnik, Bosnia and Herzegovina) were subjected to genetic analysis. The aim of this research was to test familiar relationship of 11 individuals excavated from three medieval cemeteries and to predict Y-haplogroup for male individuals. In order to perform molecular-genetic characterisation of collected human skeletal remains, two systems of genetic markers were analysed: autosomal and Y-STR loci. Complete or partial data obtained by autosomal STR typing of 11 individuals were subjected to kinship analysis. Male sex was determined in eight samples out of 11. Direct relatives of the "brother-brother" type were detected in one case with high kinship probability (KP) value of 99.99996 %. Complete or nearly complete and usable Y-STR profiles were obtained for six out of eight male individuals. The presence of identical haplotypes at Y-STR loci and results of Y-haplogroup prediction suggest that all male individuals share the same paternal lineage and belong to J2a haplogroup. Overall, this study emphasises the usefulness, efficiency and sensitivity of STR markers in the molecular-genetic characterisation of old skeletal remains as well as the importance of employing additional markers like Y-STRs in archaeogenetic studies, besides traditionally used autosomal STR markers, in order to get a comprehensive information about close and distant relatives, and ancestry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirela Dzehverovic
- University of Sarajevo-Institute for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Zmaja od Bosne 8, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Belma Jusic
- University of Sarajevo-Institute for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Zmaja od Bosne 8, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
| | - Amela Pilav
- University of Sarajevo-Institute for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Zmaja od Bosne 8, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Tamara Lukic
- Faculty of Science, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 33-35, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Jasmina Cakar
- University of Sarajevo-Institute for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Zmaja od Bosne 8, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
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7
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Dental DNA as an Indicator of Post-Mortem Interval (PMI): A Pilot Research. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232112896. [DOI: 10.3390/ijms232112896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Revised: 10/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Teeth have proven to be a reliable source of DNA for forensic analysis as the pulp is rich in cells and protected from damaging factors and contamination by dental hard tissues. The pilot study aims to evaluate the feasibility of Next-Generation sequencing analysis on dental pulp to detect genetic mutations in DNA caused by post-mortem cell necrosis. We used a 56-gene oncopanel kit on a sample of 17 teeth extracted from living patients. Time of the tooth avulsion was assumed as death of the individual and Post-mortem Interval (PMI) was the time elapse since the DNA extraction and analysis. Days and Accumulated Degree Days (ADD) were assumed as measures of PMI that ranged between 0 to 34 days. Only 38 of the 56 considered genes proved to be affected by mutations (101), thus being of forensic interest. More specifically, 14 mutations occurred only in a specific range of PMIs/ADD; 67 were detected (alone or as clusters of the same gene) at specific PMI/ADD; 22 occurred at every PMI/ADD, except for some specific intervals. Since dental pulp was not targeted by any oncological diseases and all teeth were intact, vital, and from patients with unremarkable medical history, it could be assumed that mutations were due to post-mortem DNA changes induced by pulp death and the increasing time elapse since death. This pilot study found encouraging results in the application of NGS analysis on dental DNA, especially for PMIs of several days for which the traditional tools for PMI estimation have limitations. Further research on a larger sample of PMI and validation research on a larger sample of PMI and validation of the results are indeed necessary.
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C. Zapico S, Dytso A, Rubio L, Roca G. The Perfect Match: Assessment of Sample Collection Efficiency for Immunological and Molecular Findings in Different Types of Fabrics. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231810686. [PMID: 36142599 PMCID: PMC9502974 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231810686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Revised: 09/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Body fluid identification at crime scenes can be crucial in retrieving the appropriate evidence that leads to the perpetrator and, in some cases, the victim. For this purpose, immunochromatographic tests are simple, fast and suitable for crime scenes. The potential sample is retrieved with a swab, normally a cotton swab, moistened in a specific buffer. Nonetheless, there are other swab types available, which have been proven to be efficient for DNA isolation and analysis. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficiency of different swab types for body fluid identification as well as DNA isolation and characterization. Fifty microliters of human saliva were deposited in three different types of fabric (denim, cotton, and polyester). After 24 h at room temperature, samples were recovered by applying three different swab types, and the tests were performed. Subsequently, total DNA was recovered from the sample buffer. Cotton swabs performed worse in denim and cotton fabrics in both immunochromatography tests and DNA yield. No differences were observed for polyester. In contrast, and except for two replicates, it was possible to obtain a full DNA profile per fabric and swab type, and to identify the mtDNA haplogroup. In this paper, the impact of swab types on body fluid identification through the application of immunochromatographic tests is analyzed for the first time. This work corroborates previous research related to the influence of swab types in nuclear DNA isolation and characterization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara C. Zapico
- New Jersey Institute of Technology, Department of Chemistry and Environmental Science, 161 Warren Street, Tiernan Hall, 365, Newark, NJ 07102, USA
- Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Anthropology Department, 10th and Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20560, USA
- Correspondence: or
| | - Alex Dytso
- New Jersey Institute of Technology, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University Heights, Newark, NJ 07102, USA
| | - Leticia Rubio
- Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program, Department of Chemistry and Environmental Science, 161 Warren Street, Tiernan Hall, 365, Newark, NJ 07102, USA or
- Department of Human Anatomy and Legal Medicine, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Málaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain
| | - Gabriela Roca
- SERATEC®, Gesellschaft für Biotechnologie mbH, Ernst-Ruhstrat-Strasse 5, 37079 Göttingen, Germany
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Tomsia M, Droździok K, Banaszek P, Szczepański M, Pałasz A, Chełmecka E. The intervertebral discs' fibrocartilage as a DNA source for genetic identification in severely charred cadavers. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 2022; 18:442-449. [PMID: 36208368 PMCID: PMC9636093 DOI: 10.1007/s12024-022-00536-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Identifying charred human remains poses a challenge to forensic laboratories. High temperature completely incinerates the superficial tissues and partially destroys bones, forcing the forensics to seek an alternative, for bones and teeth, forensic material that should quickly and cheaply deliver DNA of sufficient quantity and quality. We sought, other than rib cartilage, types of cartilages that could serve as a DNA source. DNA was isolated from the fibrous cartilage of a fibrous ring of intervertebral L1-L2 discs sampled from charred cadavers or charred body fragments: 5 victims of car fires, 1 victim of combustion during a residential house gas explosion, and 3 victims of nitroglycerin explosion. DNA was isolated by the column method. DNA quality and concentration were assessed by RT-PCR and multiplex PCR for 23 autosomal and 17 Y chromosome STR loci. STR polymorphism results obtained by capillary electrophoresis served for likelihood ratio (LR) calculations. DNA concentration in relation to the cadaver's age and post-mortem interval (PMI) were analyzed. All samples (n = 9) yielded good-quality DNA in quantities (0.57-17.51 ng/µL for T. Large autosomal sequence) suitable for STR-based amplification. The isolated DNA characterized a low degradation index (0.80-1.99), and we were able to obtain complete genetic profiles. In each of the nine cases, the genotyping results allowed identifying the victims based on comparative material from the immediate family. The results demonstrate the usefulness of human intervertebral disc fibrocartilage as an alternative DNA source for the genetic identification of charred bodies or charred torso fragments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcin Tomsia
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Forensic Toxicology, Medical University of Silesia, Medyków 18, 40-752, Katowice, Poland.
| | - Kornelia Droździok
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Forensic Toxicology, Medical University of Silesia, Medyków 18, 40-752, Katowice, Poland
| | - Przemysław Banaszek
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Forensic Toxicology, Medical University of Silesia, Medyków 18, 40-752, Katowice, Poland
| | - Michał Szczepański
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Forensic Toxicology, Medical University of Silesia, Medyków 18, 40-752, Katowice, Poland
| | - Artur Pałasz
- Department of Histology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Medical School of Silesia in Katowice, Medyków 18, 40-752, Katowice, Poland
| | - Elżbieta Chełmecka
- Department of Statistics, Department of Instrumental Analysis, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Medical University of Silesia, Ostrogórska 30, 41-200, Sosnowiec, Poland
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