SOMAmer reagents were selected in vitro, using whole-cell SELEX to bind specifically with intact, detergent-treated sperm cells. Successful separation of sperm from epithelial cells and their debris was demonstrated using buccal swabs with added semen. Primarily male DNA profiles were generated from sperm cells eluted from the types of cotton swabs typically used for rape kit evidence collection. The quality of sperm DNA isolated from samples purified using SOMAmers is comparable to existing commercially available differential extraction-based methods at higher sperm concentrations. This purification method is simple, offers relatively rapid (<2hr) sperm purification, and can potentially be automated using robotic workstations. This work serves as proof of concept that demonstrates the first use of SOMAmer reagents as affinity ligands to bind sperm cells. With further development, this technique can potentially be used for high-throughput sexual assault forensic casework. (publisher abstract modified)
Downloads
Similar Publications
- Technical Note – The Use Of Neutral Losses And Common Fragments Screening By QTOF In Forensic Laboratories
- DNA Recovery After Sequential Processing Of Latent Fingerprints On Black Polyethylene Plastic
- Development of Microscopical Methods for the Systematic Analysis of Chemically Reacted, Improvised Low Explosives and Related Residues