复合扩增20个Y-STR基因座及其法医学的应用

目的建立20个Y-STR基因座的复合扩增体系,进行遗传多态性调查,并评价其法医学应用价值。方法采用五色荧光素标记技术,对20个Y-STR基因座(DYS391、DYS389Ⅰ、DYS390、DYS389Ⅱ、DYS438、DYS460、Y GATA H4、DYS456、DYS439、DYS635、DYS448、DYS393、DYS388、DYS437、DYS19、DYS392、DYS458、DYS447、DYS385 a/b)进行复合扩增和毛细管电泳检测;调查辽宁汉族376名无关男性个体20个Y-STR基因座的遗传多态性数据;并对系统性能进行检测。结果本文方法同时检测20个Y-STR基因座,在376名个体中共检出376种单倍型,基因多样性在0.371 1～0.969 8之间;方法特异性好,分型结果准确稳定,灵敏度达0.062 5ng,实际案例常见生物检材的检验结果良好。结论20个Y-STR基因座复合扩增检测法可以用于实际案例检验,调查所获数据对建立Y-STR数据库和相关研究和应用具有重要意义。     

PCR-DHPLC法检测硅藻SSU基因在溺死鉴定中的应用

目的采用PCR-DHPLC法检测硅藻SSU基因,评估其在溺死鉴定中的应用价值。方法 60只实验兔随机分为生前溺死（水中溺毙）、死后入水（空气栓塞致死后入水）、对照组（空气栓塞致死后不做处理）;溺死人体脏器组织;取各组织检材提取硅藻DNA,PCR扩增硅藻特异的核糖体小亚基（SSU）片段,用琼脂糖凝胶电泳检测、DHPLC检测分析。结果 6份硝酸消化法检测阴性的溺死人体器官组织检材经PCR及琼脂糖凝胶电泳检出5例阳性。生前溺死组肺、肝、肾硅藻检出率分别为100%、90%、85%,死后入水组仅肺检出硅藻（15%）,对照组各组织均为阴性;生前溺死组检出率明显高于死后入水组（P〈0.05）。10份溺死人体器官组织检材采用DHPLC法检出硅藻种类明显多于微波消解-扫描电镜法（P〈0.05）。脏器检出硅藻种类与溺死点水样一致。结论采用PCR-DHPLC法检测硅藻SSU基因,有助于溺死鉴定和溺死地点的推断,具有法医学应用价值。     

A new 15 autosomal STRs multiplex for domestic horse genotyping

Horse genotyping has a wide range of applications such as identification, pedigree verification, parentage test, forensic investigation, population genetics, analysis of diversity, legitimate registration, among others. Following the recommendations of the International Society for Forensic Genetics (ISFG) regarding the use of non-human (animal) DNA in forensic genetic investigations we have developed a multiplex PCR system of 15 autosomal tetra-nucleotide STRs loci to Equus caballus. The system includes the newly described ECAC2, ECAC4, ECAC5, ECAC9, ECAC10, ECAC12, ECAC14, ECAC15, ECAC18, ECAC21, ECAC23, ECAC26, ECAC28, ECAC29 and ECAC30 loci (on chromosomes 2, 4, 5, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15, 18, 21, 23, 26, 28, 29 and 30, respectively). The polymorphism is in average 8 alleles per marker with a maximum of eleven and a minimum of five for the population studied. All markers were in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium, except ECAC5 (p = 0.0007). The probabilities of paternity (W), exclusion (PE) and cumulative discrimination (PD) for all loci were greater than 0.9999. This work will contribute to the implementation of standardized horse genotyping systems in the forensic community and the horse industry.     

Robust detection of cow and female buffalo DNA through Real-Time PCR assay

Cow, Bos taurus, and female buffalo, Bubalus bubalis, are considered sacred animals that are a part of rural livelihood in India. The purity of products from these bovine species has significant sentimental implications in the dairy and meat industry. Therefore, the mitochondrial DNA and the sex origin, targeting the X and Y chromosomes from these bovine species, were selected to design three multiplex real-time probe PCR assays: Hi-PCR® Cow Detection Kit (MBPCR184), Hi-PCR® Buffalo Detection Kit (MBPCR185) and Hi-PCR® Cattle Sex Determination Kit (MBPCR186). Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods (SWGDAM) guidelines were followed to perform different studies using reference control DNAs. An Internal Reagent Control (IRC) was part of every assay, thus ensuring a successful reaction. The assays were 100% specific, with no cross-amplification of the two bovine species. The amplification of the X chromosomal target was observed for male and female DNAs, whereas Y chromosome amplification was observed only for the male DNA. The assays were 100% specific to the target genes in these organisms with no non-specificity towards any other targets or organisms. The limit of detection for sex determination was 0.01 ng/µl, whereas the differential capability of the assay was 3 copies/µl and 30 copies/µl for Bos taurus and Bubalus bubalis, respectively. The assays were reproducible at 1 ng/µl genomic DNA with 95% CI. The assays are open and compatible with other brands of Real-Time PCR systems used in forensic labs. The experiments presented here verify that the developed real-time PCR assays are robust, produce reliable and reproducible results for detection and differentiation of Bos taurus and Bubalus bubalis and their sex even at low DNA concentrations.     

Forensic genetic value of 27 Y-STR loci (Y-Filer® Plus) in the South African population

South Africa has one of the highest rape statistics in the world, with an average of 117 rapes reported daily. Y-STR genotyping is becoming a popular tool in the analysis of DNA evidence collected after a crime of a sexual nature has been committed, but has yet to be implemented in South Africa’s forensic laboratories. This study aimed to investigate the forensic value of the 27 Yfiler™ Plus loci in the South African population. A total of 271 samples from the African, Asian/Indian, Mixed Ancestry¹, and Caucasian populations at the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein, South Africa were amplified and analysed using ThermoFisher Scientific’s Yfiler™ Plus PCR Amplification kit. Of the 271 samples, 261 were identified to be unique, with an overall discrimination capacity of 98.15%. Discrimination capacities ranged from 91.67% for the Asian/Indian population to 100% for the Mixed Ancestry population. The haplotype diversity across the four populations is 0.9999, with an average gene diversity across all loci of 0.717. The forensic parameters estimated in this study provide evidence for the potential use of the commercial Yfiler™ Plus PCR amplification kit in a forensic application in South Africa.     

Human genomic DNA quantitation system, H-Quant: development and validation for use in forensic casework

The human DNA quantification (H-Quant) system, developed for use in human identification, enables quantitation of human genomic DNA in biological samples. The assay is based on real-time amplification of AluYb8 insertions in hominoid primates. The relatively high copy number of subfamily-specific Alu repeats in the human genome enables quantification of very small amounts of human DNA. The oligonucleotide primers present in H-Quant are specific for human DNA and closely related great apes. During the real-time PCR, the SYBR Green I dye binds to the DNA that is synthesized by the human-specific AluYb8 oligonucleotide primers. The fluorescence of the bound SYBR Green I dye is measured at the end of each PCR cycle. The cycle at which the fluorescence crosses the chosen threshold correlates to the quantity of amplifiable DNA in that sample. The minimal sensitivity of the H-Quant system is 7.6 pg/microL of human DNA. The amplicon generated in the H-Quant assay is 216 bp, which is within the same range of the common amplifiable short tandem repeat (STR) amplicons. This size amplicon enables quantitation of amplifiable DNA as opposed to a quantitation of degraded or nonamplifiable DNA of smaller sizes. Development and validation studies were performed on the 7500 real-time PCR system following the Quality Assurance Standards for Forensic DNA Testing Laboratories.     

Evaluation of Two New Methods for DNA Extraction of “Legal High” Plant Species

A quick, simple, and high-yield nucleic acid isolation process is crucial for high-quality DNA analysis. The ability of the MicroGEM PDQeX phytoGEM system and Omega Bio-tek E.Z.N.A.® Plant DS Mini kit to extract PCR-ready DNA was evaluated by extracting the forensically relevant “legal high” plant species: Ipomoea purpurea, Artemisia absinthium, Mitragyna speciosa, Datura stramonium, and Papaver somniferum. The plant material was pulverized, processed using the manufacturer’s plant protocol for the PDQeX Nucleic Acid Extraction or the manufacturer’s protocol for the Omega extraction, quantified using the Invitrogen Qubit 2.0 Fluorometer, and analyzed for amplifiability by PCR using a Qiagen Rotor-Gene Q instrument and published assays. The DNA amplicons for the legal high species produced high-resolution melt curves concordant with the melts observed when DNA was isolated using the Qiagen DNeasy Plant Mini Kit in previous studies.     

鹅肾型星状病毒SYBR GreenⅠ实时荧光定量PCR方法的建立

本研究旨在建立一种灵敏、快速检测鹅肾型星状病毒的SYBR GreenⅠ实时荧光定量PCR方法。根据鹅肾型星状病毒的ORF1b保守序列,设计出1对引物,建立了检测该病毒的SYBR GreenⅠ实时荧光定量PCR方法。结果显示,该方法的Ct值与标准质粒在2.42×10^4~2.42×10^9copies/μL范围内呈良好的线性关系;敏感性高,最低检测限为24.2 copies/μL;该方法特异性强,对禽流感H9N2、鹅副黏病毒、鹅细小病毒、鸭坦布苏病毒均无交叉反应;重复性好,批内和批间变异系数均小于2.5%。运用该方法对动物回归试验中攻毒的雏鹅的各脏器进行检测,结果显示,肾、脾和肝中病毒含量较高,其次是胰腺、肺及肠道,而心和脑中的病毒含量最低。上述结果表明,本研究成功建立了鹅肾型星状病毒的SYBR GreenⅠ实时荧光定量PCR方法,并根据此方法检测出该病毒对肾、脾及肝具有较强的亲嗜性,为该病原致病机制研究奠定了基础。     

The genetic legacy of the Transatlantic Slave Trade in the island of New Providence

The Bahamian archipelago has been influenced by a wide array of settlers (Lucayans, Eleutherian Adventurers, British Loyalists, Creoles from the United States and African slaves) throughout its short but dynamic history. Nevertheless, the Bahamas remains poorly characterized genetically and little is known about each group's contribution to the island chain. In the current study, the population of New Providence was analyzed based on 15 autosomal STR loci routinely employed in forensic DNA fingerprinting applications. A comparison of this collection with African groups reveals similar genetic profiles to West African populations from Equatorial Guinea and Angola, possibly resulting from the importation of slaves from West African ports during the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Although the New Providence collection exhibits strong genetic affinities to the two US African American reference populations, the detection of unique alleles among them may necessitate the utilization of population-specific databases in forensic cases especially when the STR profiles include these specific variants.     

中国汉族、回族和泰国人群D12S1064、GATA158G03遗传多态性

D12S1064、GATA158G03基因座分别定位于人类第12号和第4号染色体上,其重复序列结构分别为CTAT、TCTA,基因突变率低、稳定性好,适于法医学个人识别和亲子鉴定。本文调查了D12S1064、GATA158G03基因座在中国成都汉族、中国回族和泰国人群中的遗传多态性,为相关研究和实践提供基础数据。