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Article
Forensic discrimination of vaginal epithelia by DNA methylation analysis through pyrosequencing
Electrophoresis
  • Joana Antunes, Florida International University
  • Deborah S. B. S. Silva, Florida International University; PURCRS, Porto Alegre, Brazil
  • Kuppareddi Balamurugan, The University of Southern Mississippi
  • George Duncan, Broward County Sheriff's Office Crime Laboratory
  • Clarice S. Alho, PURCRS, Porto Alegre, Brazil
  • Bruce McCord, Florida International University
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
5-2-2016
Keywords
  • DNA methylation,
  • Epigenetics,
  • Forensic Science,
  • Pyrosequencing,
  • Vaginal epithelia
Abstract

The accurate identification of body fluids from crime scenes can aid in the discrimination between criminal and innocent intent. This research aimed to determine if the levels of DNA methylation in the locus PFN3A could be used to discriminate vaginal epithelia from other body fluids. In this work we bisulfite-modified and amplified DNA samples from blood, saliva, semen, and vaginal epithelia using primers for PFN3A. Through pyrosequencing we were able to show that vaginal epithelia present distinct methylation levels when compared to other body fluids. Mixtures of different body fluids present methylation values that correlate with single-source body fluid samples and the primers for PFN3A are specific for primates. This report successfully demonstrated that the analysis of methylation in the PFN3A locus can be used for vaginal epithelia discrimination in forensic samples.

DOI
10.1002/elps.201600037
Citation Information
Joana Antunes, Deborah S. B. S. Silva, Kuppareddi Balamurugan, George Duncan, et al.. "Forensic discrimination of vaginal epithelia by DNA methylation analysis through pyrosequencing" Electrophoresis Vol. 37 (2016) p. 2751 - 2758 ISSN: 1522-2683
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/george-duncan/7/