Comparison of Commercial Kits for Recovery and Analysis of Bacterial DNA From Fingerprints |
| |
Authors: | Daniel M. Assenmacher M.S. Stephen D. Fields Ph.D. Scott S. Crupper Ph.D. |
| |
Affiliation: | Department of Biological Sciences, Masters of Science in Forensic Science Program, Emporia State University, 1 Kellogg Circle, Emporia, KS, 66856 |
| |
Abstract: | In forensic science, fingerprints are a common source of evidentiary information. However, latent examination is not always successful and trace human DNA cannot always be obtained. Thus, examining the fingerprint microbiome may offer a suitable alternative to more traditional methods of forensic identification. The Zymo Research ZR Bacterial/Fungal DNA MicroPrep™ Kit, Qiagen QIAmp® DNA Mini Kit, Promega Wizard® Genomic DNA Purification Kit, and the MPBio FastDNA® Spin Kit were compared for their ability to yield a sufficient amount of bacterial DNA for next-generation sequencing in order to obtain a microbiome profile. Prints were deposited onto slides, allowed to sit for up to 1 month, and total DNA isolated and quantified using each kit. The kit from Zymo Research yielded the most concentrated DNA sample (0.0084 ng/µL) in the least amount of time as compared to other kits examined. Although this amount of DNA was far below the recommended DNA concentration threshold recommended for next-generation sequencing, a microbiome profile was successfully obtained. As interest in using the microbiome of an individual as a forensic tool continues to increase, there is the possibility that the microbiome of a fingerprint could complement traditional human DNA profiling in the future. This study provides evidence that trace amounts of bacterial DNA from fingerprints is quantifiable and sufficient for microbiome analysis. |
| |
Keywords: | microbiome trace fingerprints next-generation sequencing bacterial DNA extraction DNA |
|
|