Amplification of oral streptococcal DNA from human incisors and bite marks

Lillian Hsu; Daniel Power; Jenine Upritchard; Jeremy Burton; Rebekah Friedlander; Jacqui Horswell; Catriona MacDonald; Jules Kieser; Geoffrey Tompkins

doi:10.1007/s00284-012-0148-x

Amplification of oral streptococcal DNA from human incisors and bite marks

Lillian Hsu, Daniel Power, Jenine Upritchard, Jeremy Burton, Rebekah Friedlander, Jacqui Horswell, Catriona MacDonald, Jules Kieser, Geoffrey Tompkins

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

14 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Challenges to the evidentiary value of morphometric determinations have led to a requirement for scientifically substantiated approaches to the forensic analysis of bite marks. Human teeth support genotypically distinctive populations of bacteria that could be exploited for forensic purposes. This study explored the feasibility of directly amplifying bacterial DNA from bite marks for comparison with that from teeth. Samples from self-inflicted experimental bite marks (n = 24) and human incisors were amplified by PCR using primers specific for streptococcal 16S ribosomal DNA. Amplicon profiles (resolved by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis) from bite mark samples aligned significantly more closely with profiles generated from the teeth responsible than with those from other teeth. Streptococcal amplicons were generated from dental samples applied to excised porcine skin for up to 48 h. These findings indicate that streptococcal DNA can be amplified directly from bite marks, and have potential application in bite mark analysis.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	207-211
Number of pages	5
Journal	Current Microbiology
Volume	65
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-012-0148-x
Publication status	Published - 2012

Keywords

DNA
Streptococcus
bite marks
incisors
microflora
polymerase chain reaction
saliva

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10.1007/s00284-012-0148-x

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title = "Amplification of oral streptococcal DNA from human incisors and bite marks",

abstract = "Challenges to the evidentiary value of morphometric determinations have led to a requirement for scientifically substantiated approaches to the forensic analysis of bite marks. Human teeth support genotypically distinctive populations of bacteria that could be exploited for forensic purposes. This study explored the feasibility of directly amplifying bacterial DNA from bite marks for comparison with that from teeth. Samples from self-inflicted experimental bite marks (n = 24) and human incisors were amplified by PCR using primers specific for streptococcal 16S ribosomal DNA. Amplicon profiles (resolved by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis) from bite mark samples aligned significantly more closely with profiles generated from the teeth responsible than with those from other teeth. Streptococcal amplicons were generated from dental samples applied to excised porcine skin for up to 48 h. These findings indicate that streptococcal DNA can be amplified directly from bite marks, and have potential application in bite mark analysis.",

keywords = "DNA, Streptococcus, bite marks, incisors, microflora, polymerase chain reaction, saliva",

author = "Lillian Hsu and Daniel Power and Jenine Upritchard and Jeremy Burton and Rebekah Friedlander and Jacqui Horswell and Catriona MacDonald and Jules Kieser and Geoffrey Tompkins",

year = "2012",

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T1 - Amplification of oral streptococcal DNA from human incisors and bite marks

AU - Hsu, Lillian

AU - Power, Daniel

AU - Upritchard, Jenine

AU - Burton, Jeremy

AU - Friedlander, Rebekah

AU - Horswell, Jacqui

AU - MacDonald, Catriona

AU - Kieser, Jules

AU - Tompkins, Geoffrey

PY - 2012

Y1 - 2012

N2 - Challenges to the evidentiary value of morphometric determinations have led to a requirement for scientifically substantiated approaches to the forensic analysis of bite marks. Human teeth support genotypically distinctive populations of bacteria that could be exploited for forensic purposes. This study explored the feasibility of directly amplifying bacterial DNA from bite marks for comparison with that from teeth. Samples from self-inflicted experimental bite marks (n = 24) and human incisors were amplified by PCR using primers specific for streptococcal 16S ribosomal DNA. Amplicon profiles (resolved by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis) from bite mark samples aligned significantly more closely with profiles generated from the teeth responsible than with those from other teeth. Streptococcal amplicons were generated from dental samples applied to excised porcine skin for up to 48 h. These findings indicate that streptococcal DNA can be amplified directly from bite marks, and have potential application in bite mark analysis.

AB - Challenges to the evidentiary value of morphometric determinations have led to a requirement for scientifically substantiated approaches to the forensic analysis of bite marks. Human teeth support genotypically distinctive populations of bacteria that could be exploited for forensic purposes. This study explored the feasibility of directly amplifying bacterial DNA from bite marks for comparison with that from teeth. Samples from self-inflicted experimental bite marks (n = 24) and human incisors were amplified by PCR using primers specific for streptococcal 16S ribosomal DNA. Amplicon profiles (resolved by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis) from bite mark samples aligned significantly more closely with profiles generated from the teeth responsible than with those from other teeth. Streptococcal amplicons were generated from dental samples applied to excised porcine skin for up to 48 h. These findings indicate that streptococcal DNA can be amplified directly from bite marks, and have potential application in bite mark analysis.

KW - DNA

KW - Streptococcus

KW - bite marks

KW - incisors

KW - microflora

KW - polymerase chain reaction

KW - saliva

UR - http://handle.uws.edu.au:8081/1959.7/519833

U2 - 10.1007/s00284-012-0148-x

DO - 10.1007/s00284-012-0148-x

M3 - Article

SN - 0343-8651

VL - 65

SP - 207

EP - 211

JO - Current Microbiology

JF - Current Microbiology

IS - 2

ER -

Amplification of oral streptococcal DNA from human incisors and bite marks

Abstract

Keywords

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