A 27-locus STR assay to meet all United States and European law enforcement agency standards

The population genetics characteristics of a 90 locus panel of microhaplotypes

Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and small genomic regions with multiple SNPs (microhaplotypes, MHs) are rapidly emerging as novel forensic investigative tools to assist in individual identification, kinship analyses, ancestry inference, and deconvolution of DNA mixtures. Here, we analyzed information for 90 microhaplotype loci in 4009 individuals from 79 world populations in 6 major biogeographic regions. The study included multiplex microhaplotype sequencing (mMHseq) data analyzed for 524 individuals from 16 populations and genotype data for 3485 individuals from 63 populations curated from public repositories. Analyses of the 79 populations revealed excellent characteristics for this 90-plex MH panel for various forensic applications achieving an overall average effective number of allele values (A_e) of 4.55 (range 1.04–19.27) for individualization and mixture deconvolution. Population-specific random match probabilities ranged from a low of 10^–115 to a maximum of 10^–66. Mean informativeness (I_n) for ancestry inference was 0.355 (range 0.117–0.883). 65 novel SNPs were detected in 39 of the MHs using mMHseq. Of the 3018 different microhaplotype alleles identified, 1337 occurred at frequencies > 5% in at least one of the populations studied. The 90-plex MH panel enables effective differentiation of population groupings for major biogeographic regions as well as delineation of distinct subgroupings within regions. Open-source, web-based software is available to support validation of this technology for forensic case work analysis and to tailor MH analysis for specific geographical regions.

Development and evaluation of a rapid PCR method for the PowerPlex®S5 system for forensic DNA profiling

Forensic DNA profiling is a multi-step process taking approximately 10h to complete. A reduction in the amount of time required for the amplification step would allow for faster human identification and increase laboratory throughput. The goal of this work was to optimize and evaluate a rapid PCR method for the PowerPlex®S5 system for forensic DNA profiling. By pairing fast chemistries with a fast thermal cycler, we were able to reduce the amplification time by 70% (1 h). Sensitivity and heterozygous peak height ratios were comparable between the fast and standard protocols. However, there was a notable decrease (5%) in peak height ratio at the D18S51 locus with the fast cycling method. An increase in average mean stutter for combined loci of 2.6% was observed in profiles amplified using the fast protocol compared to the standard system. Our results suggest that with further optimization and validation the fast protocol can be used to replace the standard amplification conditions.

Fully integrated, fully automated generation of short tandem repeat profiles

Background

The generation of short tandem repeat profiles, also referred to as ‘DNA typing,’ is not currently performed outside the laboratory because the process requires highly skilled technical operators and a controlled laboratory environment and infrastructure with several specialized instruments. The goal of this work was to develop a fully integrated system for the automated generation of short tandem repeat profiles from buccal swab samples, to improve forensic laboratory process flow as well as to enable short tandem repeat profile generation to be performed in police stations and in field-forward military, intelligence, and homeland security settings.

Results

An integrated system was developed consisting of an injection-molded microfluidic BioChipSet cassette, a ruggedized instrument, and expert system software. For each of five buccal swabs, the system purifies DNA using guanidinium-based lysis and silica binding, amplifies 15 short tandem repeat loci and the amelogenin locus, electrophoretically separates the resulting amplicons, and generates a profile. No operator processing of the samples is required, and the time from swab insertion to profile generation is 84 minutes. All required reagents are contained within the BioChipSet cassette; these consist of a lyophilized polymerase chain reaction mix and liquids for purification and electrophoretic separation.

Profiles obtained from fully automated runs demonstrate that the integrated system generates concordant short tandem repeat profiles. The system exhibits single-base resolution from 100 to greater than 500 bases, with inter-run precision with a standard deviation of ±0.05 - 0.10 bases for most alleles. The reagents are stable for at least 6 months at 22°C, and the instrument has been designed and tested to Military Standard 810F for shock and vibration ruggedization. A nontechnical user can operate the system within or outside the laboratory.

Conclusions

The integrated system represents the first generation of a turnkey approach to short tandem repeat profiling and has the potential for use in both the field (for example, police booking stations, the battlefield, borders and ports) and the forensic laboratory.

Rapid focused sequencing: a multiplexed assay for simultaneous detection and strain typing of Bacillus anthracis, Francisella tularensis, and Yersinia pestis

Background

The intentional release of Bacillus anthracis in the United States in 2001 has heightened concern about the use of pathogenic microorganisms in bioterrorism attacks. Many of the deadliest bacteria, including the Class A Select Agents Bacillus anthracis, Francisella tularensis, and Yersinia pestis, are highly infectious via the pulmonary route when released in aerosolized form. Hence, rapid, sensitive, and reliable methods for detection of these biothreats and characterization of their potential impact on the exposed population are of critical importance to initiate and support rapid military, public health, and clinical responses.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We have developed microfluidic multiplexed PCR and sequencing assays based on the simultaneous interrogation of three pathogens per assay and ten loci per pathogen. Microfluidic separation of amplified fluorescently labeled fragments generated characteristic electrophoretic signatures for identification of each agent. The three sets of primers allowed significant strain typing and discrimination from non-pathogenic closely-related species and environmental background strains based on amplicon sizes alone. Furthermore, sequencing of the 10 amplicons per pathogen, termed “Rapid Focused Sequencing,” allowed an even greater degree of strain discrimination and, in some cases, can be used to determine virulence. Both amplification and sequencing assays were performed in microfluidic biochips developed for fast thermal cycling and requiring 7 µL per reaction. The 30-plex sequencing assay resulted in genotypic resolution of 84 representative strains belonging to each of the three biothreat species.

Conclusions/Significance

The microfluidic multiplexed assays allowed identification and strain differentiation of the biothreat agents Bacillus anthracis, Francisella tularensis, and Yersinia pestis and clear discrimination from closely-related species and several environmental background strains. The assays may be extended to detect a large number of pathogens, are applicable to the evaluation of both environmental and clinical samples, and have the potential to be applied in military, public health, and clinical diagnostic settings.