Cytochrome b gene for species identification of the conservation animals

A partial DNA sequence of cytochrome b gene was used to identify the remains of endangered animals and species endemic to Taiwan. The conservation of animals species included in this study were: the formosan gem-faced civets, leopard cats, tigers, clouded leopards, lion, formosan muntjacs, formosan sika deers, formosan sambars, formosan serows, water buffalo, formosan pangolins and formosan macaques. The control species used included domestic cats, domestic dogs, domestic sheeps, domestic cattles, domestic pigs and humans. Heteroplasmy was detected in the formosan macaque, domestic pig and domestic cats. The frequencies of heteroplasmy in these animals were about 0.25% (1 in 402bp). Sequences were aligned by Pileup program of GCG computer package, and the phylogenetic tree was constructed by the neighbor-joining method. The results of sequence comparison showed that the percentage range of sequence diversity in the same species was from 0.25 to 2.74%, and that between the different species was from 5.97 to 34.83%. The results of phylogenetic analysis showed that the genetic distance between the different species was from 6.33 to 40.59. Animals of the same species, both the endangered animal species and domestic animals, were clustered together in the neighbor-joining tree. Three unknown samples of animal remains were identified by this system. The partial sequence of cytochrome b gene adopted in this study proved to be usable for animal identification.     

基于12s rRNA的犀牛角制品DNA条形码鉴定分析

目的通过对几种涉案犀牛角制品的12s rRNA条形码序列比对分析,探析12s rRNA在犀牛角制品种属鉴定中的应用可行性。方法以3个案件中的涉案犀牛角制品为材料,采用改良的基因组DNA提取方法,PCR扩增DNA条形码片段12s rRNA。结果通过序列比对与分析,表明12s rRNA可将涉案犀牛角制品鉴定到种的水平。结论 DNA条形码12s rRNA可以作为一个新手段对形态上无法鉴别的犀牛角制品进行准确的种属鉴定,为案件的定性与量刑提供可靠的依据。     

基于28SrRNA基因序列对洛阳地区嗜尸性蝇类的分子鉴定CSCD

目的通过检测嗜尸性蝇类28S r RNA基因中715 bp序列,鉴定常见嗜尸性蝇类种属,解决其形态学鉴定难题,为死亡时间推断提供技术支持。方法收集洛阳地区常见嗜尸性蝇类标本29只,经形态学鉴定后,用Chelex-100法提取腿部DNA,并对28S r RNA基因片段进行扩增和测序,与Gen Bank和EMBL数据库中的28条相应蝇种序列进行比对,用MEGA7.0软件进行序列整理,通过BLAST搜索进行序列比对,并分析所得序列碱基组成,建立种内及种间进化分歧率,构建系统发育树。结果形态学鉴定29只嗜尸性蝇类归属于3科5属6种。获得28S r RNA基因中715 bp的序列,在线BLAST比对结果显示相似度100%。系统发育树显示5种蝇类可以较好聚类。不同蝇种种间差异0.007~0.045,种内差异0~0.001,种间差异和种内差异没有交叉。结论 28S r RNA靶基因序列片段对嗜尸性蝇类有良好的鉴别能力,可以作为新的嗜尸性蝇类种属鉴定遗传标记。     

Establishing the rDNA IGS structure of Cannabis sativa

The rDNA intergenic spacer (IGS) structure of Cannabis sativa was established and can be used for classification and identification of this species. In this study, DNA fragments of rDNA IGS were amplified by PCR from Cannabis sativa plant extracts and a 1387 bp fragment was obtained. DNA sequence analysis revealed six different repeat motifs. In the middle of the IGS sequence, there were three sequence motifs, and the same three sections of DNA were then repeated with minor variation in sequence. The terminal region of the IGS was composed of another three different repeat units; multiple copies of these terminal repeat motifs were present in no discernible order. Within six repeat motifs, point variations were observed in five. The DNA sequence of the locus was compared with all the plant sequences registered in GenBank by the Fasta program of GCG software with the result that this DNA fragment was significantly different from any other DNA sequence recorded to date. The most similar sequence was that of Hops (Humulus lupulus), but with a similarity of only 88.9% over 579 bp. These specific and complex variations of IGS may be related to the species and geographic distributions.     

嗜尸性苍蝇mtDNA中COⅡ基因序列检测

目的利用线粒体DNA(m tDNA)上细胞色素氧化酶辅酶Ⅱ(COⅡ)中635bp基因序列,解决嗜尸性苍蝇及其卵和幼虫种类鉴定的难题。方法随机采集放置在呼和浩特地区室外草地家兔尸体上的嗜尸性苍蝇、幼虫、苍蝇腹中的卵。利用Chelex方法提取上述苍蝇m tDNA;通过Perk in-E lm er 9600扩增仪进行PCR扩增;琼脂糖水平电泳和银染显色技术进行扩增结果检测;PCR胶回收试剂盒纯化;AB I 377测序仪测序;DNAMAN 4.0序列分析软件,进行序列比对,截取等长度片段;MEGA2.1软件包进行序列分析和构建系统发育树。结果上述嗜尸性苍蝇m tDNA上COⅡ基因序列在双翅目嗜尸性苍蝇的种内差异均数小于1%,种间差异均数大于3%,成虫与幼虫、卵无明显差异。以此能够根据COⅡ序列差异判断两个个体是否同种。然而,对于亲缘关系非常接近的铜绿蝇和丝光绿蝇来说,由于二者的种内、种间进化分歧均数非常接近,运用上述两个片段则很难区别。结论m tDNA上COⅡ序列分析能有效地对绝大多数嗜尸性苍蝇进行种类鉴定。该检测方法快速、简便和精确,能作为法医鉴别嗜尸性苍蝇种类的依据。     

人与动物mtDNA细胞色素b基因的序列差异

目的 探讨人与动物之间mtDNA细胞色素b(Cyt-b)基因序列差异及其种属鉴定。方法 采用1对Cyt-b基因通用引物对人和19种动物共171例样本的mtDNA进行PCR扩增,琼脂糖凝胶检测扩增产物,ABI 377测序仪及荧光测序技术分析扩增产物的DNA序列。结果 所有样本均检测到1条358bp的扩增片段;任何两种动物扩增片段的序列都不相同,人与19种动物的序列差异在18.9％-30.0％,19种动物之间的序列差异在5.9％-32.9％。同种动物不同个体间只有人、驴及小白鼠存在变异,最多有4个碱基变异位点(1.3％),其它动物未发现种内变异。结论 人与不同种动物的Cyt-b基因序列存在差异,以此可区分不同种属的动物。     

线粒体16srRNA和ND4基因在种属鉴定中的应用研究

目的构建一种用于种属鉴定的线粒体DNA(m tDNA)16 srRNA和ND4基因荧光标记复合扩增检测体系。方法利用引物设计软件(Prim er 5)对两个m tDNA序列ND4基因和16 srRNA基因设计两对引物,每对引物中的一条在5’端标记荧光素(6-FAM)。按传统复合扩增技术建立复合扩增体系,用AB I PR ISM 310基因分析仪对产物进行分析。结果人类DNA扩增产物出现两个峰,片段大小分别为110bp的人类特异片段和149bp的人与动物共有片段,而动物DNA扩增产物出现一个峰,片段大小为149bp。对30个实验室存放5~15年的陈旧人血痕也能明确判断其种属来源。结论该体系可以明确区分人源性生物检材与其它常见动物样本,对实验室长期存放的陈旧检材也具有较好的检测能力。     

A DNA-based approach for the forensic identification of Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) in a traditional Asian medicine

Attempts to prevent illegal trade in bile and gallbladders from Asiatic black bears, Ursus thibetanus, are hampered by difficulties associated with identifying such items. We extracted DNA from bile crystals of unknown species origin and generated partial cytochrome b (cyt b) sequences using either universal primers (positioned in conserved regions of cyt b), or primers designed on existing U. thibetanus sequences (UT). Species origin was determined by aligning resolved sequences to reference sequence data. The universal primers were unsuitable for U. thibetanus identification when multiple species templates were present in the samples. The UT primers amplified U. thibetanus DNA from all sample extracts, including those containing mixed species templates. The amplified fragment can distinguish U. thibetanus from the most closely related species, U. americanus, a distinct advantage of DNA sequencing over the methods currently used to analyze suspected U. thibetanus bile.     

Identification of Indian Crocodile Species Through DNA Barcodes

The biodiversity of India includes three crocodile species, Crocodylus palustris, Crocodylus porosus, and Gavialis gangeticus, whose status is threatened due to bushmeat crisis and illegal hunting. The crocodilian conservation management requires novel techniques to help forensic analysts to reveal species identity. DNA barcoding is a species identification technique, where a partial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene is used as a marker for species identification. Herein, the DNA barcoding technique is evaluated for three Indian crocodiles by analyzing an approximately 750‐bp barcode region. The alignment result shows interspecific variations between sequences for discrimination of the three Indian crocodiles leading to species identification. The phylogenetic analyses also substantiate the established crocodilian relationships, which add further advantage to use this DNA barcoding approach for Indian crocodiles. This study provides preliminary evidences for the use of DNA barcoding technique in the identification of Indian crocodile species.     

复合扩增mtDNA-HVI和Cyt b片段鉴定混合血痕种属

目的探讨mtDNA-HVI和Cyt b片段复合扩增法鉴定人与动物混合血痕种属的应用价值。方法用chelex-100法从人、牛、猪、狗、兔、鱼、鸡和鼠血痕中提取DNA,复合扩增mtDNA-HVI片段和Cyt b片段,琼脂糖凝胶电泳检测。结果人类在mtDNA-HVI区和Cyt b区分别出现279bp和358bp各一条带,且279bp条带亮于358bp;动物均只有358bp一条带。人与7种动物血痕的检测灵敏度均为3.13ng。检测人与动物混合DNA,灵敏度仍为3.13ng,但358bp条带亮于279bp条带。结论当358bp带明显强于279bp带时,提示检材为人与动物的混合。     

Multiplex amplification of mitochondrial DNA for human and species identification in forensic evaluation

We describe a method combining in a single-round polymerase chain reaction amplifications of both cytochrome b and hypervariable D-loop mitochondrial DNA allowing species determination and individual human identification. Following the amplification step, amplicons are first screened on an agarose gel. The presence of only one band indicates that the sample is nonhuman, while the presence of two bands indicates a human origin. Subsequent DNA sequencing of the hypervariable D-loop region DNA allows for individual human identification as the presence of cytochrome b fragment does not interfere with the analysis. Similarly, further species determination on the basis of the phylogenetically variable cytochrome b gene is possible by sequencing of the cytochrome b DNA fragment.     

线粒体DNA短片段复合扩增系统鉴别种属的研究

目的建立线粒体DNA短片段复合扩增体系用于种属鉴定的方法。方法提取人、牛、猪、羊、鸡的DNA,用所选的3对引物复合扩增细胞色素b基因（cyt b）片段、16srRNA基因片段和ND4基因片段,扩增产物经琼脂糖凝胶电泳检测。结果人DNA扩增产物在358bp、157bp和110bp处各出现一条带;动物DNA扩增产物均只有358bp一条带。结论线粒体DNA短片段复合扩增鉴别种属的方法可区分人源性生物检材和其它动物样本,可应用于法庭科学实践。     

DNA‐Based Identification of Forensically Important Lucilia (Diptera: Calliphoridae) in the Continental United States*

Abstract: Correct species identification is critical when dipteran larvae are used for inference of the postmortem interval. To facilitate DNA‐based identification of forensically important flies of the genus Lucilia in the continental United States, we develop a vouchered reference collection and DNA sequence database. A total of 122 specimens were collected for nine of the 10 species of Lucilia reported to occur in the continental United States. Using the polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing, data were obtained for an 1100‐bp region of the mitochondrial gene encoding cytochrome oxidase I (COI). We consider a species suitable for DNA‐based identification if it is exclusively monophyletic in >95% of bootstrap pseudoreplicate phylogenetic analyses. Seven of the nine species meet that criterion. Two species (Lucilia coeruleiviridis and Lucilia mexicana) share COI sequence and cannot be distinguished using our reference database. We conclude that DNA‐based identification is likely to be successful for the other seven species.     

Molecular Identification of Three Indian Snake Species Using Simple PCR–RFLP Method*

Abstract: Three endangered Indian snake species, Python molurus, Naja naja, and Xenochrophis piscator are known to be significantly involved in illegal trade. Effective authentication of species is required to curb this illegal trade. In the absence of morphological features, molecular identification techniques hold promise to address the issue of species identification. We present an effective PCR–restriction fragment length polymorphism method for easy identification of the three endangered snake species, Python molurus, Naja naja, and Xenochrophis piscator. A 431‐bp amplicon from cytochrome b gene was amplified using novel snake‐specific primers following restriction digestion with enzymes Mbo II and Fok I. The species‐specific reference fragment patterns were obtained for the target species, which enabled successful identification of even highly degraded shed skin sample confirming the utility of the technique in case of poor‐quality DNA. The assay could be effectively used for forensic authentication of three Indian snake species and would help strengthen conservation efforts.     

扩增12S rRNA基因鉴定生物检材种属

目的建立一种能够在同一反应条件下鉴定多个具体物种．又满足简单、快速、特异、灵敏、准确等实用要求的种属鉴定方法。方法从GenBank中获取人、鸡、鸭、鹅、猪、兔、鼠、绵羊、水牛、狗、山羊等11个物种的12SrRNA基因序列．设计一对针对上述11个物种的通用引物和分别针对人、鸡和鸭的特异引物,同时扩增各物种12SrRNA基因。以通用引物扩增片段为内部对照．以特异引物扩增片段用于人、鸡和鸭的种属鉴定,并分别对人、鸡、鸭单一检材以及人和鸡、人和鸭、鸡和鸭等二元混合DNA进行鉴定。结果通用引物扩增,各物种均有400bp左右的扩增片段：特异引物只对各自目标种属有扩增产物,片段大小：人163bp、鸡286bp、鸭374bp;测序结果与GenBank既有序列比对,Identities分值：人100％、鸡99％、鸭100％;通用引物扩增人、鸡和鸭检材的灵敏度为2．5Pg;特异引物扩增灵敏度人为2．5pg,鸡、鸭均为200Pg;混合DNA中任一种DNA的含量只要高于检测灵敏度即可被准确检出．不受另一种DNA量的干扰：盲测结果准确。结论本方法可以利用同一种PCR反应条件鉴定多个物种的种属。     

Validation of the barcoding gene COI for use in forensic genetic species identification

The application of forensics to wildlife crime investigation routinely involves genetic species identification based on DNA sequence similarity. This work can be hindered by a lack of authenticated reference DNA sequence data resulting in weak matches between evidence and reference samples. The introduction of DNA barcoding has highlighted the expanding use of the mtDNA gene, cytochrome c oxidase I (COI), as a genetic marker for species identification. Here, we assess the COI gene for use in forensic analysis following published human validation guidelines. Validation experiments investigated reproducibility, heteroplasmy, mixed DNA, DNA template concentration, chemical treatments, substrate variation, environmental conditions and thermocycling parameters. Sequence similarity searches using both GenBank BLASTn and BOLD search engines indicated that the COI gene consistently identifies species where authenticated reference sequence data exists. Where misidentification occurred the cause was attributable to either erroneous reference sequences from published data, or lack of primer specificity. Although amplification failure was observed under certain sample treatments, there was no evidence of environmentally induced sequence mutation in those sequences that were generated. A simulated case study compared the performance of COI and cytochrome b mtDNA genes. Findings are discussed in relation to the utility of the COI gene in forensic species identification.     

Identification of DNA of human origin based on amplification of human-specific mitochondrial cytochrome b region

Species-specific differences in a non-polymorphic region of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene appear to be large enough to allow human-specific amplification of forensic DNA samples. We therefore developed a PCR-based method using newly designed primers to amplify a 157-bp portion of the human mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. The forward and reverse primers were designed to hybridize to regions of the human mitochondrial cytochrome b gene with sequences differing from those of chimpanzee by 26% (7 bp/27 bp) and 26% (6 bp/23 bp), respectively. Using this primer pair, we successfully amplified DNA extracted from blood samples of 48 healthy adults. All these human samples produced a single band of the expected size on agarose gel electrophoresis, and the sequence of the single band was shown to be identical to that of the target region (157 bp) by sequence analysis. On the other hand, no visible bands were amplified from DNA extracted from blood samples of animals including non-human primates (chimpanzee, gorilla, Japanese monkey, crab-eating monkey) and other species (cow, pig, dog, goat, rat, chicken and tuna). Thus, DNA producing a single band following PCR amplification using this primer pair can be reasonably interpreted as being of human origin. In addition, aged biological specimens comprising bloodstains, hair shafts and bones were successfully identified as being of human origin, illustrating the applicability of the present method to forensic specimens.     

Species identification using sequences of the trnL intron and the trnL-trnF IGS of chloroplast genome among popular plants in Taiwan

Forensic botanical comparison can be hampered by the lack of appropriate DNA databases. While DNA sequence databases for many mitochondrial loci have been established for the identification of animal species, less is known regarding the genomes of plants. We report on the use of the trnL intron and the trnL-trnF intergenic spacer (IGS) in the chloroplast genome and establish a DNA sequence database for plant species identification. The DNA sequences at these two loci from commonly encountered plants, including monocots and dicots, were aligned to establish a DNA database of local plants. The database comprises 373 individual sequences representing 80 families, 206 genera and 269 species. These plant species can be grouped to species level using both sequence and length polymorphisms at these loci. To validate the database for future forensic purposes, we sequenced 20 blind samples and searched the local database and the databases of GenBank and EMBL. Fifteen of these 20 samples used in blind trial testing matched their respective species from our local DNA database but only 6 matched species registered in the GenBank and EMBL databases. The sequences of two species used in the blind trial did not match any sequence registered in any of these databases. Cluster analysis was performed to demonstrate the family and genus distribution of samples. Neighbor-joining trees of the two DNA regions from 70 samples of the local database and 10 of the species used in the blind trials were constructed and clustered to both family and genus. The bootstrap values of the trnL intron were higher than most of those of the trnL-trnF IGS. The sequence database described in this study can be used to identify plant species using DNA sequences of the trnL intron and trnL-trnF IGS of chloroplast genome and illustrates its value in plant species identification.     

提取CO Ⅰ基因片段鉴定嗜尸性蝇类

目的通过扩增蝇类COⅠ基因片段,结合形态学特征鉴定嗜尸性蝇类的种类。方法运用改良平衡酚—tris饱和酚法提取蝇类DNA,进行COⅠ序列扩增和测序,与数据库序列进行比对和分析。结果改良平衡酚—tris饱和酚提取DNA方法可获得有效的蝇类DNA,并可应用于COⅠ基因片段扩增,进而进行蝇类种类的鉴定。结论平衡酚—Tris饱和酚法提取的噬尸性蝇类虫体DNA作为模板,用于COⅠ序列扩增,测序后与数据库目的序列分析比对,可准确鉴定嗜尸性蝇类的种类;和传统的昆虫形态学特征鉴定方法比较,该体系更准确,应用范围更广。     

Discrimination between human and animal DNA: application of a duplex polymerase chain reaction to forensic identification

Identification of a report's species is one of the basic analyses in forensic laboratories. The authors report the case of 6 bone fragments recovered in a wooded area, which were not attributable to 1 animal species on the basis of morphologic examination. The aim of this study was to develop a duplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to discriminate human and animal origin of bone fragments. The method is based on the PCR amplification of cytochrome b and a 16S ribosomal mitochondrial DNA fragment, which has never been tested up to now. Our protocol combines a single-round PCR with direct visualization of amplicons in agarose gel, without sequencing analysis of the PCR products. The presence of a single band (359 bp) indicates a nonhuman origin of the sample, whereas 2 bands (157 and 359 bp) indicate a human biologic sample.This method revealed to be useful for forensic purposes because the 16S ribosomal mitochondrial DNA is a small human-specific fragment that is easily amplifiable even with degraded DNA from biologic materials such as old bones.