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Schyma C, Müller R, Brünig J, Zieger M, Utz S, Grabmüller M. The muzzle to target distance -staining inside different parts of the firearm barrel. Int J Legal Med 2024; 138:1149-1156. [PMID: 38091066 PMCID: PMC11003904 DOI: 10.1007/s00414-023-03141-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Biological traces inside firearm barrels were observed as a result of contact shots to the head. The present study was conducted to investigate the influence of the muzzle to target distance on staining inside the anterior and posterior part of firearm barrels. Ninety-nine shots were fired to so-called reference cubes (10% gelatine, 12 cm edge length, embedded paint-blood-pad) using three current handguns. Shot range was varied from contact to 50 cm distance. High-speed cameras recorded external backspatter. Endoscopic examination assessed visible staining along the barrel. Each two swabbings were gathered from the anterior and the posterior part of the barrel. The first swabs were submitted to quantitative PCR, the second ones to DNA-RNA-co-extraction. Thorough mechanical and chemical cleaning was performed to avoid any contamination which was controlled by negative zero swabs after each cleaning. In single shots up to 50 cm distance, minimal, but DNA-positive sporadic traces were detected inside the barrel in vicinity of the muzzle. Visible complex staining varying in extent was observed in the anterior barrel part for 10 cm or less distance in dependence of the calibre. The posterior part showed detectable traces only after close range shots (< 5 cm). Generally staining inside the barrel decreased from the muzzle to the rear end, which correlated with the yield of DNA. Some contact shots did not cause any staining in the posterior part of the barrel despite massive external backspatter. Blood-specific miRNA was primarily found where DNA was detected. This experience encourages to take a second swab for RNA analysis. The amount of nucleic acids in the barrel at varying muzzle to target distances is subject to large variations between individual shots and therefore appears not suitable for a reliable determination of the shot distance in a particular case on its own. Instead, shot range estimation should also take into account morphology and distribution of traces inside the barrel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Schyma
- Institute of Forensic Medicine of the University of Bern, Murtenstrasse 26, 3008, Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Rolf Müller
- Criminal Investigation Service, Cantonal Police Department of Bern, Nordring 30, 3013, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Julia Brünig
- Institute of Forensic Medicine of the University of Bern, Murtenstrasse 26, 3008, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Martin Zieger
- Institute of Forensic Medicine of the University of Bern, Murtenstrasse 26, 3008, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Silvia Utz
- Institute of Forensic Medicine of the University of Bern, Murtenstrasse 26, 3008, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Melanie Grabmüller
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University Bonn, Stiftsplatz 12, 53111, Bonn, Germany
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Poethe SS, Holtel J, Biermann JP, Riemer T, Grabmüller M, Madea B, Thiele R, Jäger R. Cost-Effective Next Generation Sequencing-Based STR Typing with Improved Analysis of Minor, Degraded and Inhibitor-Containing DNA Samples. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043382. [PMID: 36834791 PMCID: PMC9960623 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Forensic DNA profiles are established by multiplex PCR amplification of a set of highly variable short tandem repeat (STR) loci followed by capillary electrophoresis (CE) as a means to assign alleles to PCR products of differential length. Recently, CE analysis of STR amplicons has been supplemented by high-throughput next generation sequencing (NGS) techniques that are able to detect isoalleles bearing sequence polymorphisms and allow for an improved analysis of degraded DNA. Several such assays have been commercialised and validated for forensic applications. However, these systems are cost-effective only when applied to high numbers of samples. We report here an alternative, cost-efficient shallow-sequence output NGS assay called maSTR assay that, in conjunction with a dedicated bioinformatics pipeline called SNiPSTR, can be implemented with standard NGS instrumentation. In a back-to-back comparison with a CE-based, commercial forensic STR kit, we find that for samples with low DNA content, with mixed DNA from different individuals, or containing PCR inhibitors, the maSTR assay performs equally well, and with degraded DNA is superior to CE-based analysis. Thus, the maSTR assay is a simple, robust and cost-efficient NGS-based STR typing method applicable for human identification in forensic and biomedical contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara-Sophie Poethe
- Institute for Functional Gene Analytics, Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences, Grantham Allee 20, 53757 Sankt Augustin, Germany
| | - Julia Holtel
- Institute for Functional Gene Analytics, Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences, Grantham Allee 20, 53757 Sankt Augustin, Germany
| | - Jan-Philip Biermann
- Institute for Functional Gene Analytics, Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences, Grantham Allee 20, 53757 Sankt Augustin, Germany
| | - Trine Riemer
- Department of Natural Sciences, Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences, von-Liebig Str. 20, 53359 Rheinbach, Germany
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Experimental Neonatology, Center for Biochemistry, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Joseph-Stelzmann-Str. 52, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Melanie Grabmüller
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Bonn, Stiftsplatz 12, 53111 Bonn, Germany
| | - Burkhard Madea
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Bonn, Stiftsplatz 12, 53111 Bonn, Germany
| | - Ralf Thiele
- Institute for Functional Gene Analytics, Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences, Grantham Allee 20, 53757 Sankt Augustin, Germany
- Computer Science Department, Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg, University of Applied Sciences, Grantham Allee 20, 53757 Sankt Augustin, Germany
| | - Richard Jäger
- Institute for Functional Gene Analytics, Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences, Grantham Allee 20, 53757 Sankt Augustin, Germany
- Department of Natural Sciences, Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences, von-Liebig Str. 20, 53359 Rheinbach, Germany
- Institute of Safety and Security Research, Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg, University of Applied Sciences, Grantham Allee 20, 53757 Sankt Augustin, Germany
- Correspondence:
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Uerlings S, Welter V, Madea B, Grabmüller M. Comparative analysis of DNA extraction processes for DNA-based identification from putrefied bodies in forensic routine work. Forensic Sci Int 2021; 320:110707. [PMID: 33548585 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2021.110707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Revised: 12/13/2020] [Accepted: 01/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Identification of putrefied bodies is an important and common task in forensic routine. Usually, the identification of deceased is done by visual recognition, fingerprints, physical distinguishing marks (e.g. tattoos, scars and surgical implants) and/or dental examination. However, if morphologic characteristics are not recognizable, due to advanced putrefaction of the corpse, or recent medical records are not available, the DNA-based identification is favored. Thus, in order to find another reliable procedure for DNA extraction of putrefied samples regarding tissue selection, costs and time, two commercial forensic kits were compared: DNeasy® Blood & Tissue kit and SwabSolution™ kit. Both kits were used for DNA extraction from five soft tissues (brain, aorta, liver, kidney and psoas major muscle) and nails (finger- and toenail) obtained during the medicolegal autopsy of 20 putrefied corpses. DNeasy® Blood & Tissue kit was by quantitative comparison mostly superior to SwabSolution™ kit: it yielded more DNA of better quality (i.e. less degraded and inhibited). However, the qualitative results (DNA profiles) of both extraction procedures were similar. Among the analyzed tissue types, nails were proved as the most suitable for DNA-based identification of putrefied bodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonja Uerlings
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University Hospital Bonn, Stiftsplatz 12, 53111, Bonn, Germany.
| | - Vanessa Welter
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University Hospital Bonn, Stiftsplatz 12, 53111, Bonn, Germany
| | - Burkhard Madea
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University Hospital Bonn, Stiftsplatz 12, 53111, Bonn, Germany
| | - Melanie Grabmüller
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University Hospital Bonn, Stiftsplatz 12, 53111, Bonn, Germany
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Schyma C, Madea B, Müller R, Zieger M, Utz S, Grabmüller M. DNA-free does not mean RNA-free-The unwanted persistence of RNA. Forensic Sci Int 2020; 318:110632. [PMID: 33302243 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2020.110632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Contact shots to the head often provoke a transfer of biological traces into firearm barrels, which are not visible at endoscopic inspection. STR-PCR can amplify these latent traces and assign them to the victim. Via RNA-DNA-co-extraction also miRNA can be detected, which allow a conclusion to be drawn about the body fluid or tissue. Molecular genetic analysis of experimental stains in firearm barrels requires the guarantee that the barrel is initially free of any nucleic acid. Twelve shots were fired to so-called "reference cubes" (10 % gelatine, 12 cm edge length, embedded paint-blood-pad) using three current handguns: from 20 and 30 cm distance, four at close range (1-2.5 cm) and six contact shots. After endoscopic examination and swabbing of the barrels, a previously described mechanical and chemical cleaning using DNAExitusPlus™ was performed. The inner surface of the barrel was thoroughly wiped off using moistened forensic swabs, which were submitted to RNA-DNA-co-extraction. The combined thorough mechanical cleaning with Ballistol® and the application of DNAExitusPlus™ eliminated any profilable DNA in all samples. However, in 10 of 12 samples RNA concentrations between 0.11 - 0.79 ng/μl were measured. Furthermore, in 9 of 12 samples blood-specific miRNA (miR-451a) was detected. Summarizing, none of the experimentally contaminated barrels was RNA-free despite the performed cleaning procedure. Further investigation showed, that even "professional" cleaning by a gunsmith did not remove RNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Schyma
- Institute of Forensic Medicine of the University of Bern, Bühlstrasse 20, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Burkhard Madea
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University Bonn, Stiftsplatz 12, 53111 Bonn, Germany
| | - Rolf Müller
- Criminal Investigation Service of the Cantonal Police Department of Bern, Nordring 30, 3013 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Martin Zieger
- Institute of Forensic Medicine of the University of Bern, Bühlstrasse 20, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Silvia Utz
- Institute of Forensic Medicine of the University of Bern, Bühlstrasse 20, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Melanie Grabmüller
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University Bonn, Stiftsplatz 12, 53111 Bonn, Germany
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Heß SA, Biermann JP, Grabmüller M, Madea B, Thiele R, Jäger R. Evaluation of STR profiles of single telogen hairs using probabilistic methods. Forensic Science International: Genetics Supplement Series 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fsigss.2019.10.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Uerlings S, Madea B, Grabmüller M. A comparison of endogenous and exogenous RNA reference marker as relevant for accurate Post-Mortem Interval estimation. Forensic Science International: Genetics Supplement Series 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fsigss.2019.09.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Grabmüller M, Cachée P, Madea B, Courts C. How far does it get?--The effect of shooting distance and type of firearm on the simultaneous analysis of DNA and RNA from backspatter recovered from inside and outside surfaces of firearms. Forensic Sci Int 2015; 258:11-8. [PMID: 26625183 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2015.10.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2015] [Revised: 09/24/2015] [Accepted: 10/29/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
When a firearm projectile hits a biological target a spray of biological material (e.g. blood and tissue) is ejected from the entrance wound and propelled back into the direction of the firearm. This phenomenon has been termed 'backspatter' and if backspattered biological material reaches the firearm on its backward trajectory it may persist on and be recovered from the firearm's inside surfaces. Molecular genetic analysis of backspatter generated by contact shots and shots from very short distances has already been demonstrated to critically contribute to victim identification and the reconstruction of firearm-related crimes. It is not known, however, up to what shooting distance can backspatter be found on firearms' inside surfaces and what influence the weapon's type and caliber has on backspatter attributes (e.g. reach, amount and distribution). Therefore, the present pilot study investigated the effect of serval combinations of shooting distances and types of firearms and ammunitions on the analyzability of co-extracted DNA and micro-RNA in samples of backspatter collected from interior and exterior surfaces of the firearms after experimental shootings employing standardized ballistic models. We demonstrate the limiting effect of shooting distance and the type of firearm on the yield of nucleic acids recovered from backspatter and the success rates of forensic DNA profiling and RNA based body-fluid and organ tissue identification in experimental shootings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie Grabmüller
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Bonn, Stiftsplatz 12, 53111 Bonn, Germany
| | - Philipp Cachée
- Firearms and Ballistic Expert Witness P. Cachée, Birkenweg 6, 14554 Neuseddin, Germany
| | - Burkhard Madea
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Bonn, Stiftsplatz 12, 53111 Bonn, Germany
| | - Cornelius Courts
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Bonn, Stiftsplatz 12, 53111 Bonn, Germany.
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Grabmüller M, Schyma C, Euteneuer J, Madea B, Courts C. Simultaneous analysis of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA, mRNA and miRNA from backspatter from inside parts of firearms generated by shots at "triple contrast" doped ballistic models. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 2015. [PMID: 26210238 DOI: 10.1007/s12024-015-9695-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
When a firearm projectile hits a biological target a spray of biological material (e.g., blood and tissue fragments) can be propelled from the entrance wound back towards the firearm. This phenomenon has become known as "backspatter" and if caused by contact shots or shots from short distances traces of backspatter may reach, consolidate on, and be recovered from, the inside surfaces of the firearm. Thus, a comprehensive investigation of firearm-related crimes must not only comprise of wound ballistic assessment but also backspatter analysis, and may even take into account potential correlations between these emergences. The aim of the present study was to evaluate and expand the applicability of the "triple contrast" method by probing its compatibility with forensic analysis of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA and the simultaneous investigation of co-extracted mRNA and miRNA from backspatter collected from internal components of different types of firearms after experimental shootings. We demonstrate that "triple contrast" stained biological samples collected from the inside surfaces of firearms are amenable to forensic co-analysis of DNA and RNA and permit sequence analysis of the entire mtDNA displacement-loop, even for "low template" DNA amounts that preclude standard short tandem repeat DNA analysis. Our findings underscore the "triple contrast" method's usefulness as a research tool in experimental forensic ballistics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie Grabmüller
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Bonn, Stiftsplatz 12, 53111, Bonn, Germany
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Grabmüller M, Madea B, Courts C. Comparative evaluation of different extraction and quantification methods for forensic RNA analysis. Forensic Sci Int Genet 2015; 16:195-202. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fsigen.2015.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2014] [Revised: 11/20/2014] [Accepted: 01/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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Courts C, Grabmüller M, Madea B. Functional single-nucleotide variant of HSPD1 in sudden infant death syndrome. Pediatr Res 2013; 74:380-3. [PMID: 23823174 DOI: 10.1038/pr.2013.112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2012] [Accepted: 02/19/2013] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND An insufficient stress response due to a genetically impaired heat shock protein (Hsp) could play a role in the pathogenesis in a subgroup of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) cases. Herein, we are the first to investigate whether a functionally impairing and thus pathogenic variant of the gene for Hsp60, encoded by HSPD1 (rs72466451), is correlated with the occurrence of SIDS. METHODS In a case-control study of a series of 133 cases of SIDS and 192 gender-matched German Caucasian control cases, the occurrence and distribution of the HSPD1 single-nucleotide variant (SNV) was analyzed using SNV genotyping by minisequencing. RESULTS The results show significantly increased frequency of the pathogenic variant of the HSPD1 SNV in a subgroup (4.5%) of SIDS cases. CONCLUSION The results suggest that the pathogenic variant of rs72466451 may play a role in a subgroup of SIDS cases with impaired Hsp60-mediated stress response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cornelius Courts
- Department of Forensic Genetics, Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
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Courts C, Grabmüller M, Madea B. Monoamine oxidase A gene polymorphism and the pathogenesis of sudden infant death syndrome. J Pediatr 2013; 163:89-93. [PMID: 23391042 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2012.12.072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2012] [Revised: 12/07/2012] [Accepted: 12/20/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To test the hypothesis that there is a significant association between functionally relevant allelic variants of the monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) polymorphism and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). STUDY DESIGN In a case-control study of 142 cases of SIDS and 280 sex-matched control cases, the distribution of allelic and genotype variants of a promoter polymorphism of the MAO-A gene was examined using polymerase chain reaction locus amplification and fluorescence based fragment length analysis. RESULTS There was a significantly differential distribution of allelic and genotype variants between females with SIDS and controls. Moreover, there was a significant association between SIDS in females and allelic and genotype variants, each related to a higher transcriptional activity at the MAO-A locus. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest a role of MAO-A in female SIDS pathogenesis exerted by functionally relevant allelic and genotype variants of the MAO-A polymorphism. However, with the complex and inconsistent evidence available to date, the impact of the MAO-A promoter polymorphism on SIDS etiology remains unclear.
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Courts C, Grabmüller M, Madea B. Dysregulation of heart and brain specific micro-RNA in sudden infant death syndrome. Forensic Sci Int 2013; 228:70-4. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2013.02.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2012] [Revised: 01/28/2013] [Accepted: 02/21/2013] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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