A proof of principal study on the use of direct PCR of semen and spermatozoa and development of a differential isolation protocol for use in cases of alleged sexual assault

Tobe, Shanan S. and Swaran, Yuvaneswari C. and Dennany, Lynn and Sibbing, Ursula and Schulze Johann, Kristina and Welch, Lindsey and Vennamann, Marielle (2017) A proof of principal study on the use of direct PCR of semen and spermatozoa and development of a differential isolation protocol for use in cases of alleged sexual assault. International Journal of Legal Medicine, 131. pp. 87-94. ISSN 0937-9827 (https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-016-1461-x)

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Abstract

Sexual assault samples are some of the most common samples encountered in forensic analysis. These samples can require a significant time investment due to differential extraction processes. We report on the first record of successful direct amplification of semen for STR analysis. Neat seminal fluid, dilutions ranging from 1:5 to 1:160 and GEDNAP samples were successfully amplified using a direct method. A mild differential isolation technique to enrich spermatozoa was developed and successfully implemented to separate and directly amplify a mixture of semen and female epithelial cells. Aliquots of samples subjected to the differential isolation protocol were stained with Haemotoxylin and Eosin for sperm scoring. Samples stained after PCR showed a complete lack of intact spermatozoa demonstrating that the cells are lysed during the PCR process. This paper demonstrates the potential to incorporate direct PCR in cases of sexual assault to more rapidly obtain results and achieve a higher sensitivity. (150)

ORCID iDs

Tobe, Shanan S., Swaran, Yuvaneswari C., Dennany, Lynn ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5481-1066, Sibbing, Ursula, Schulze Johann, Kristina, Welch, Lindsey and Vennamann, Marielle;
  • Item type:Article
    ID code:58631
    Dates:
    Date
    Event
    31 January 2017
    Published
    10 November 2016
    Published Online
    10 November 2016
    Accepted
    25 July 2016
    Submitted
    Notes:© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2016 Tobe, S.S., Swaran, Y.C., Dennany, L. et al. A proof of principal study on the use of direct PCR of semen and spermatozoa and development of a differential isolation protocol for use in cases of alleged sexual assault. Int J Legal Med 131, 87–94 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-016-1461-x
    Subjects:Medicine > Public aspects of medicine > Forensic Medicine. Medical jurisprudence. Legal medicine
    Department:Faculty of Science > Pure and Applied Chemistry
    Depositing user: Pure Administrator
    Date deposited:14 Nov 2016 11:27
    Last modified:11 Nov 2024 11:33
    Related URLs:
    URI:https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/58631
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