Validation of a 17-locus Y-STR multiplex system

Internal validation of a commercial 17-locus Y-STR system (AmpFlSTR^® Yfiler™, Applied Biosystems) has been performed on the ABI PRISM^® 3130 Genetic Analyzer for use in forensic cases. The Yfiler™ kit was validated according to SWGDAM guidelines. Our results show that it is possible to obtain full profiles with as little as 30 pg of male DNA even in the presence of 20,000-fold amounts of female DNA. Reaction volume was optimized for 10 μl. Male-male mixtures yielded full profiles of the minor contributor with 10-fold excess of the major contributor. Stutter values for each locus were determined from data generated for the population study which included Y-STR profiles from 156 caucasian males from the Montreal and Lac St.-Jean areas of Québec, Canada. The study recorded 141 different haplotypes of which 131 were unique with a haplotype diversity of 0.9965. A number of non-probative forensic samples from rape kit epithelial fractions and fingernail scrapings were also successfully tested.     

SNP genotyping of forensic casework samples using the 52 SNPforID markers

The analysis of degraded DNA is one of the biggest challenges in forensic casework. SNPs, which can be amplified using small amplicons, have previously been successfully applied to the profiling of forensic evidence that could not be analyzed using conventional STRs. Here we selected the 52 SNPforID SNP markers, with amplicons that ranged in size from 59 bp to 115 bp, and used them to profile a range of casework samples from Malaysia. DNA degradation is a common problem in Malaysia due to the high temperatures and humidity. To carry out the study we modified the 52 SNPforID markers into four 13-plex SNaPshot assays to enable easier interpretation of profiles on the ABI PRISM^® 310 and 3500.Fifty-one crime samples comprising bloodstains on cloth, swabs, and a mat and 2 swabs of trace DNA from 10 crime scenes in Malaysia were profiled after DNA extraction using a phenol–chloroform method. The samples were also subjected to STR analysis using the Powerplex^® 16 system (Promega), which resulted in only 17 full profiles and 9 partial profiles; using SNPs, 36 full profiles and 5 partial profiles could be generated.     

Utility validation of extraction of genomic DNA from hard tissues, bone and nail, using PrepFiler™ Forensic DNA Extraction Kit

STR profiling using hard tissues obtained from a severely decomposed body is sometimes a laborious work. There is now on a market a new DNA extraction kit, PrepFiler™ Forensic DNA Extraction Kit (AppliedBiosystems), and we tested it for missing persons. Postmortem intervals ranged from weeks to several years. Fifteen bone fragments and eleven nails were used in this report. Genomic DNA was quantified by QuantiFiler^® DUO Quantification Kit (AppliedBiosystems), and STRs were analyzed using AmpFlSTR^® Identifiler^® PCR Amplification Kit (AppliedBiosystems). The profiling of 16 STR loci was successful in all nail samples. However, STR profiling was successful in only 6 of 15 bone materials. Nine cases failed to analyze STR polymorphisms using another DNA extraction kit, the QIAamp DNA Mini Kit (QIAGEN). For bone samples, it seems that STR profiling depends on the quality of samples.     

Forensic examination and application of areca nuts as material evidence

In this study, we aimed to explore the possibility of DNA analysis of areca nut as material evidence and the value of short tandem repeat (STR) typing of areca nut as material evidence under the condition of simulating external environment. In this study, water soaking, soil burial, sun exposure, and wet environment were used to treat areca nut residues. Chelex 100 was used to extract DNA, the PowerPlex21 kit to amplify, and the ABI PRISM^® 310 Genetic Analyzer to analyze the DNA of areca nut residues. DNA and STR typing were performed to analyze the residue after chewing. The results showed that the number of residual sites decreased with time under the conditions of water soaking, soil burial, sun exposure, and wet environment. Thus, areca nut can be used as forensic material evidence for DNA analysis and individual identification.     

吸附性载体上微量血痕的DNA分型

目的研究吸附性载体上微量血痕的DNA提取及其检验。方法用Chelex-100法、QIAamp MiniKit、及QIAamp Mini Kit改良法提取吸附性载体上微量血痕中的DNA,进行PCR扩增及STR检验。结果采用Chelex-100法及QIAamp Mini Kit的分型成功率很低;采用QIAamp Mini Kit的改良法能较好的得到分型图谱。结论采用QIAamp Mini Kit的改良法能较好的提取吸附性载体上微量血痕的模板DNA。     

中国鄂温克族人群15个STR基因座多态性研究

目的调查15个STR基因座在中国鄂温克族人群中的基因频率分布。方法应用PowerPlex16System复合扩增系统,对99名鄂温克族无关个的血样DNA进行多态性研究。结果在鄂温克族人群中15个STR基因座偶合率(Pm)在0.0205～0.1733之间,个体识别概率(DP)在0.8267～0.9795之间,杂合度在0.6061～0.9091之间,三联非父排除率(PE)在0.4038～0.7690之间,多态性信息总量(PIC)在0.5985～0.8734之间,15个STR基因座总TDP值为0.9999999999998,所有基因座经χ2检验符合Hard-Weinberg平衡。结论上述15个STR基因座在鄂温克族人群中等位基因分布较好,个体识别率高,适合法医个体识别和亲子鉴定。     

中国东部蒙古族人群15个STR基因座多态性研究

目的调查15个STR基因座在中国东部蒙古族人群中的基因频率分布。方法应用四色荧光标记引物复合扩增技术,对105名东部蒙古族无关个的血样15个STR基因座进行多态性研究。结果在东部蒙古族人群中15个STR基因座偶合率在0.0084～0.2169之间,个体识别概率(DP)在0.7831～0.9916之间,杂合度在0.5619～0.9231之间,三联非父排除率(PE)在0.4490～0.8444之间,多态性信息总量(PIC)在0.5438～0.9178之间,15个STR基因座总TDP值为0.9999999999998,所有基因座经χ2检验符合Hard-Weinberg平衡。结论上述15个STR基因座在东部蒙古族人群中等位基因分布较好,个体识别率高,适合法医个体识别和亲子鉴定。     

Adaptation and evaluation of the PrepFiler™ DNA extraction technology in an automated forensic DNA analysis process with emphasis on DNA yield, inhibitor removal and contamination security

Within the initial step of the forensic DNA analysis process, the DNA extraction efficiency and especially the removal of potential PCR inhibitors is crucial for subsequent steps, e.g. quantification by real-time PCR and amplification of short tandem repeats (STRs). The protocol of the PrepFiler™ Forensic DNA Extraction Kit was optimized for the application on a Tecan liquid handling workstation Freedom EVO^® 150. This modified application of the PrepFiler™ technology was compared with respect to DNA yield, sensitivity and the ability to remove potential PCR inhibitors to an established routine method working on the same liquid handling workstation based on ChargeSwitch^® Technology (CST) from Invitrogen.     

Qiagen's Investigator™ Quantiplex Kit as a Predictor of STR Amplification Success from Low‐Yield DNA Samples,

Qiagen's Investigator? Quantiplex kit, a total human DNA quantitation kit, has a 200‐base pair internal control, fast cycling time, and scorpion molecules containing a covalently linked primer, probe, fluorophore, and quencher. The Investigator? Quantiplex kit was evaluated to investigate a value under which complete short tandem repeat (STR) failure was consistently obtained. Buccal swabs were extracted using the Qiagen QIAamp^® DNA Blood Mini Kit, quantified with the Investigator? Quantiplex kit using a tested half‐volume reaction, amplified with the ABI AmpFlSTR^® Identifiler kit, separated on the 3100Avant Genetic Analyzer, and data analyzed with GeneMapper^® ID v.3.2. While undetected samples were unlikely to produce sufficient data for statistical calculations or CODIS upload (2.00 alleles and 0.82 complete loci on average), data may be useful for exclusionary purposes. Thus, the Investigator? Quantiplex kit may be useful for predicting STR success. These findings are comparable with previously reported data from the Quantifiler? Human kit.     

PowerPlex 16 HS: Internal validation of a new tool for genetic analysis of forensic and parentage testing

Forensic human identification requires powerful and efficient tools to obtain useful results in a minimum timeframe. In this study several forensic and parentage samples that could not be analyzed with others kits were studied using the recently available PowerPlex^® 16 HS kit (Promega). DNA was extracted using four different methods, depending upon the particular sample, and the PCR products were run on an ABI 3130XL Sequencer. The resultant DNA profiles were analyzed using Gene Mapper ID v 3.2 Analysis Software (ABI). Of 30 samples processed with the PowerPlex^® 16 HS system, genetic analysis was successful in 18 (60%). The results obtained show that the PowerPlex^® 16 HS is a valuable tool for forensic identification and parentage testing that is particularly useful for difficult samples that have not yielded adequate results with other methods.     

Simultaneous detection of ABO and Secretor-nonsecretor blood groups from forensic biological samples by fragment analysis

This paper describes the simultaneous detection of ABO and Secretor-nonsecretor (SE) blood groups from forensic biological samples by fragment analysis using the ABI PRISM^® 3130 genetic analyzer. The method allows the assay of well-known base changes at three nucleotide positions 261, 796 and 803 on cDNA of the ABO gene, and at 385 and 428 on cDNA of SE gene and a SE pseudo gene, so that reliable group prediction is established by the presence of representative alleles. As a result, simultaneous detection of ABO and SE blood groupings from biological samples was correctly determined by our methods.     

国产磁珠结合自动化工作站批量提取生物检材DNA的应用

目的建立国产磁珠结合自动化工作站批量提取案件中生物检材DNA的方法。方法采用国产磁珠结合Bio-Robert Universal System自动化工作站对案件中常见的生物样本进行DNA提取,检测Identifiler系统16个STR基因座,在ABI3130XL遗传分析仪上进行STR分型。其中210份样品同时在ABI7500型荧光定量PCR仪上进行定量。结果9100份10类生物检材应用国产磁珠结合自动化工作站,大部分可提取到足够的DNA进行STR检验。STR检验成功率最高的为口腔拭子、肌肉,达100%,接触细胞检材的成功率较低,为50.0%。结论国产磁珠结合自动化工作站可用于案件中常见的大部分生物样本的DNA提取。     

Generating DNA profiles from immunochromatographic cards using LCN methodology

The aim of this research was to obtain DNA profiles from immunochromatographic test devices which have already yielded positive results with body fluids obtained from fourteen volunteers. Three different immunochromatographic cards for the identification of human blood and one for the identification of human saliva were used for this research. Each body fluid was detected using the appropriate immunochromatographic card. The used cards were kept at room temperature for various lengths of time. The membranes were removed at the end of the designated times and the entire strip was extracted using low copy number (LCN) extraction procedure. The extracted DNA was amplified using reduced amplification volume and higher PCR cycle numbers. Autosomal STR profiles were detected using AmpFℓSTR^® Identifiler™ PCR Amplification Kit from Applied Biosystems (AB). Additionally, DNA extracted from the male volunteers was amplified using the AB AmpFℓSTR^® Yfiler™ PCR Amplification Kit. Analysis of the amplified products was carried out by capillary electrophoresis injection on the AB 3130xl Genetic Analyzer. The generated DNA data was analyzed using the SoftGenetics GeneMarker^® HID Version 1.7 software.Autosomal and Y-STR DNA profiles were obtained from most of the cards which were stored at room temperature for up to three months. DNA profile was obtained from all four types of the immunochromatographic cards used in this study. These profiles were concordant with the profiles obtained from the donors’ reference samples.     

3种提取胶带粘面汗潜指印中DNA的方法比较

目的比较胶带粘面汗潜指印中DNA提取的方法。方法分别采用硅珠法、QIAMicrokit法、硅珠-QIAMicrokit法提取胶带粘面的汗潜指印中DNA,STR复合扩增,荧光电泳检测。结果用QIAMicrokit法、硅珠-QIAMicrokit法提取胶带粘面汗潜指印中DNA,检测成功率分别为21%和36%。硅珠法检测未获成功。结论硅珠-QIAMicrokit法提取胶带粘面汗潜指印中的DNA比QIAMicrokit法,检验时间更短,检测成功率更高。     

模板DNA用量对荧光STR复合扩增检测的影响

目的 探讨模板DNA用量对荧光STR复合扩增检测的影响,寻求荧光STR复合扩增检测的最适扩增模板DNA用量。方法 采用模板DNA(9947A)不同的扩增用量,对Profiler Plus试剂盒的基因座进行扩增,在3100型全自动遗传分析仪上作了检测。结果 3100型遗传分析仪检测的最适扩增模板DNA用量在0.31～2.5ng之间。结论 模板DNA量过高或过低均会影响荧光STR复合扩增检测结果的可靠性。     

Analysis of AmpFlSTR MiniFiler™ loci and its forensic application

The allele frequencies of eight MiniFiler™ loci have been analyzed in 101 Japanese individuals living in Kanagawa with informed consent by means of ABI 310 Genetic Analyzer. A total of 7 alleles for D13S317, 8 alleles for D7S820, 11 alleles for D2S1338, 11 alleles for D21S11, 5 alleles for D16S539, 14 alleles for D18S51, 8 alleles for CSF1PO, and 13 alleles for FGA were observed. The polymorphic profiles of these MiniFiler™ loci in the present study were essentially the same as those obtained by using the AmpFlSTR^® Identifiler^® PCR Amplification kit. The combined matching probability of eight MiniFiler™ loci and cumulative probability of paternity exclusion were estimated as 1.97 × 10⁻¹⁰ and 0.9996, respectively. The MiniFiler™ kit was useful for individual identification in forensic analysis.     

探讨EOS染色剂对血迹DNA检验的影响

目的探讨被EOS染色剂处理后的血迹进行DNA检验的初步方法。方法制备EOS染色剂处理的血迹样本，分别采取纯水擦拭、75％酒精擦拭，或手术刀刮取血痕浸泡于纯水中、759／5酒精中，然后提取DNA进行下一步检测。结果采用刀刮取血痕浸泡于759／6酒精中，提取的DNA检测结果较好。结论初步实验显示，经EOS染色剂处理过的血迹，可参考刀刮取血迹置于75％酒精浸泡后提取DNA做下一步检测。     

PCR扩增体系的体积减少对DNA分析的影响

目的探讨PCR扩增体系的体积减少对DNA分析的影响。方法4份样品采用ProfilerPlus试剂盒,在同样条件下,对50μl、25μl、12.5μl、6.25μl四种体积的体系进行扩增,扩增产物分别经ABIPRISMTM310型基因分析仪、ABIPRISMTM377型测序仪、ABIPRISMTM3100型基因分析仪电泳,并经GeneScan3.1基因扫描软件和Genotyper2.5分析软件分析得到实验结果。结果小体积的扩增体系容易出现等位基因的丢失、额外等位基因的产生等现象。结论在检材情况较差时,应该慎用小体积的扩增体系。     

Optimization of DNA recovery from toothbrushes

In human identification, the victim's toothbrush is an invaluable personal item as the deposited cellular material contains DNA from which a reference profile can be produced. The profile obtained then allows direct comparison to be made with the profile from the unidentified body. This study was undertaken to determine the minimum number of bristle bundles that would generate a complete DNA profile. The minimum period of usage for a toothbrush to retain enough cells for genotyping was also investigated. We also tested two commonly used DNA extraction methods: QIAamp^® DNA Mini Kit and Chelex^® 100 to explore the efficiency of these protocols in recovering DNA from toothbrushes. In this experiment, volunteers brushed their teeth for 1, 7, 14, or 30 days. DNA was extracted from 5 and 10 bundles of bristles cut from the collected toothbrushes. The amount of DNA recovered was quantified by quantitative real-time PCR, and DNA genotyping was performed for each sample. Data revealed that QIAamp^® DNA Mini Kit performed better at yielding DNA in terms of purity, quantity, and quality than Chelex^® 100. It was also found that, with a suitable method of recovery, DNA samples from five bundles of bristles from all of the toothbrushes generated complete profiles. Based on the experimental results, a general guideline concerning the appropriate extraction method and the quantity of the starting material for the analysis of DNA from toothbrushes could be suggested.     

广西地区3个群体15个STR基因座频率多态性

目的调查广西地区仡佬族、仫佬族、瑶族无关个体的15个STR基因座(D8S1179、1321S11、D7S820、CSF1PO、D3S1358、TH01、D13S317、D16S539、D2S1338、D19S433、vWA、TPOX、D18S51、D5S818、FGA)多态性,研究其在法医学检验中的应用价值。方法 应用AmpFISTR IdentifilerTM荧光标记复合扩增系统,对314例仡佬族、332例仫佬族、238例瑶族无关个体血样DNA进行15个STR基因座的复合扩增,用ABI 3100遗传分析仪对扩增产物进行检测,GeneScan、GenoTyper软件进行基因分型,统计计算15个STR基因座的群体遗传学参数。结果IdertifilerTM系统的15个STR基因座在仡佬、仫佬、瑶族的累积偶合率为1.839×10-16~5.073×10-17,累积非父排除率为0.9999983~0.9999991。结论该15个STR基因座足可满足仡佬族、仫佬族、瑶族法医学的个体识别及亲权鉴定的需要。