Multiplex mRNA profiling for the identification of body fluids

    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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