Title

Multiplex mRNA profiling for the identification of body fluids

Authors

Authors

J. Juusola;J. Ballantyne

Comments

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Abbreviated Journal Title

Forensic Sci.Int.

Keywords

RNA; mRNA profiling; body fluid identification; blood identification; saliva identification; semen identification; vaginal secretions; identification; menstrual blood identification; multiplex RT-PCR; MATRIX METALLOPROTEINASES; FORENSIC IDENTIFICATION; HUMAN ENDOCERVIX; DNASE-I; GENES; MENSTRUATION; Medicine, Legal

Abstract

We report the development of a multiplex reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method for the definitive identification of the body fluids that are commonly encountered in forensic casework analysis, namely blood, saliva, semen, and vaginal secretions. Using selected genes that we have identified as being expressed in a tissue-specific manner we have developed a multiplex RT-PCR assay which is composed of eight body fluid-specific genes and that is optimized for the detection of blood, saliva, semen, and vaginal secretions as single or mixed stains. The genes include P-spectrin (SPTB) and porphobilinogen deaminase (PBGD) for blood, statherin (STATH) and histatin 3 (HTN3) for saliva, protamine 1 (PRMI) and prolamine 2 (PRM2) for semen, and human beta-defensin 1 (HBD-1) and mucin 4 (MUC4) for vaginal secretions. The known or presumed functions of these genes suggest an extremely restricted pattern of gene expression, which is a basic requirement for incorporation into a tissue-specific assay. The methodology is based upon gene expression profiling analysis in which the body fluid-specific genes are identified by detecting the presence of appropriate mRNA species using capillary electrophoresis/laser induced fluorescence. An mRNA-based approach, such as the multiplex RT-PCR method described in the present work, allows for the facile identification of the tissue components present in a body fluid stain and could supplant the battery of serological and biochemical tests currently employed in the forensic serology laboratory. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Journal Title

Forensic Science International

Volume

152

Issue/Number

1

Publication Date

1-1-2005

Document Type

Article

Language

English

First Page

1

Last Page

12

WOS Identifier

WOS:000230317700001

ISSN

0379-0738

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