Fotosyntesen kallas den process som omvandlar ljusenergi till kemisk energi. Fotosyntesen sker i tylakoidmembranet och drivs av två stora proteinkomplex, fotosystem II (PSII) och fotosystem I (PSI) då de tillförs energi i form av fotoner. PSI-N är ett mindre protein på ca 10 kDa som ingår i PSI. På något sätt, som ännu inte är klarlagt, samverkar PSI-N med PSI-F och plastocyanin när det dockar till PSI. Det är därför av viktigt att rena fram större mängder av PSI-N för att få djupare kunskaper om proteinet samt dess struktur och funktioner. Tidigare undersökningar har utförts i ämnet och ett fusionsprotein innehållande PSI-N har uttryckts i Escherichia coli (E.coli). Problem har dock uppstått efter lysis av cellerna då det har visat sig att fusionsproteinet har degraderats. Vårt examensarbete strävar efter att rena fram intakt fusionsprotein med hjälp av, framför allt, mekanisk lysis och proteasinhibitorer. / The process where light is converted into chemical energy is called photosyntesis. The reaction takes place in the thylakoid membrane and is driven by two major protein complexes, photosystem II (PSII) and photosystem I (PSI) when energy in form of photons are received. PSI-N, a subunit in PSI, is a smaller protein with a mass of approximately 10 kDa. In some way, which is not yet clarified, PSI-N collaborates with PSI-F and plastocyanin when plastocyanin is docking to PSI. It is therefore important to purify larger amounts of the protein to acquire deeper knowledge of its structure and function. In earlier research the PSI-N protein has been expressed in Escherichia coli (E.coli). The problem has been degradation of the fusion protein after lysis. Our goal with this project is to obtain the purified protein intact using mechanic lysis and protease inhibitors.

The recent breakthroughs in genomics and molecular diagnostics will not be reflected in health-care systems unless the biogenetic or other nucleic acid-based tests are transferred from the laboratory to clinical market. Developments in microfabrication techniques brought lab-on-a-chip (LOC) into being the best candidate for conducting sample preparation for such clinical devices, or point-of-care testing set-ups. Sample preparation procedure consists of several stages including cell transportation, separation, cell lysis and nucleic acid purification and detection. LOC, as a subset of Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), refers to a tiny, compact, portable, automated and easy-to-use microchip capable of performing the sample-preparation stages together. Complexity in micro-fabrications and inconsistency of the stages oppose integration of them into one chip. Among the variety of mechanisms utilized in LOC for cell lysis, electrical methods have the highest potential to be integrated with other microchip-based mechanisms. There are, however, major limitations in electrical cell lysis methods: the difficulty and high-cost fabrication of microfluidic chips and the high voltage requirements for cell lysis. Addressing these limitations, the focus of this thesis is on realization of cell lysis microchips suitable for LOC applications. We have developed a new methodology of fabricating microfluidic chips with electrical functionality. Traditional lithography of microchannel with electrode, needed for making electro-microfluidic chips, is considerably complicated. We have combined several easy-to-implement techniques to realize electro-microchannel with laser-ablated polyimide. The current techniques for etching polyimide are by excimer lasers in bulky set-ups and with involvement of toxic gas. We present a method of ablating microfluidic channels in polyimide using a 30W CO2 laser. Although this technique has poorer resolution, this approach is more cost effective, safer and easier to handle. We have verified the performance of the fabricated electro-microfluidic chips on electroporation of mammalian cells. Electrical cell lysis mechanisms need an operational voltage that is relatively high compared to other cell manipulation techniques, especially for lysing bacteria. Microelectro-devices have dealt with this limitation mostly by reducing the inter-distance of electrodes. The technique has been realized in tiny flow-through microchips with built-in electrodes in a distance of a few micrometers which is in the scale of cell size. In addition to the low throughput of such devices, high probability of blocking cells in such tiny channels is a serious challenge. We have developed a cell lysis device featured with aligned carbon nanotube (CNT) to reduce the high voltage requirement and to improve the throughput. The vertically aligned CNT on an electrode inside a MEMS device provides highly strengthened electric field near the tip. The concept of strengthened electric field by means of CNT has been applied in field electron emission but not in cell lysis. The results show that the incorporation of CNT in lysing bacteria reduces the required operational voltage and improves throughput. This achievement is a significant progress toward integration of cell lysis in a low-voltage, high-throughput LOC. We further developed the proposed fabrication methodology of micro-electro-fluidic chips, described earlier, to perform electroporation of single mammalian cell. We have advanced the method of embedding CNT in microchannel so that on-chip fluorescent microscopy is also feasible. The results verify the enhancement of electroporation by incorporating CNT into electrical cell lysis. In addition, a novel methodology of making CNT-embedded microfluidic devices has been presented. The embedding methodology is an opening toward fabrication of a CNT-featured LOC for other applications.

No description available.

INTRODUCTION AND AIM The prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) has increased significantly in the black South African population in recent years. Early in the development of CVD, atherosclerotic plaques form in the vessel wall. When this plaque becomes unstable and ruptures, the coagulation cascade is activated and a blood clot forms. The function of this clot is to stop bleeding. However, it cannot remain in the vasculature indefinitely and has to be lysed again. The ability of the body to lyse clots can be measured with global fibrinolytic potential (GFP) assays and expressed as lysis time. Increased clot lysis time (CLT) has been shown to be significantly associated with various CVD risk factors and CVD events in Caucasian populations while very little information is available for other ethnicities. In this study we investigated plasma GFP and its relation to CVD risk factors in a large black African population. We also determined the effect of three polymorphisms in the promoter area of the plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) gene on PAI-1act (activity) levels (a main determinant of CLT) and CLT, together with gene-environment interactions and the effect of urbanisation on these interactions. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS Apparently healthy men and women between the ages of 35 and 65 years were recruited to take part in the South African arm of the Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study. Approximately 1000 rural and 1000 urban black African individuals participated. Data and samples were collected during a 12-week collection period in 2005 for cross-sectional analysis. RESULTS Increased PAI-1act levels, body mass index (BMI), glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c), triglycerides, fibrinogen concentration, C-reactive protein, female sex, positive HIV-status and the metabolic syndrome were all associated with prolonged CLTs, while increased habitual alcohol consumption was associated with shorter iv CLTs. Urban-rural differences for CLT existed in women only. This is likely due to the larger extent of rural-urban differences in other CVD risk factors observed in women compared to what was observed in men. Of the CVD risk factors measured, PAI-1 explained the largest proportion of the variance in CLT (27%). Owing to the important role PAI-1act plays in CLT, we investigated three polymorphisms in the PAI-1 gene promoter area (the 4G/5G polymorphism, the novel SNP C428T and SNP G429A (previously identified)), and the influence of these polymorphisms on PAI-1act levels and CLT. The frequency of the 5G allele was high (0.85) in comparison with previously reported literature. PAI-1act increased significantly across genotypes in the urban (5G/5G: 3.84 U/ml; 4G/5G: 4.85 U/ml; 4G/4G: 5.96 U/ml p=0.009) but not the rural subgroup, while CLT did not differ. We found significant interactions between the 4G/5G polymorphism and BMI, waist circumference and triglycerides in determining PAI-1act, and between the 4G/5G polymorphism and fibrinogen and fibrinogen gamma prime in determining CLT. Direct relationships with PAI-1act or CLT were not found for the C428T and G429A polymorphisms; they did, however, influence associations of other environmental factors with PAI-1act and CLT. Several of these interactions differed significantly between rural and urban subgroups, particularly in individuals harbouring the mutant alleles. CONCLUSION CLT associated with many of the same CVD risk factors described in the literature for Caucasian populations, but also with other risk factors. Rural-urban differences in CLT are dependent on the association of CLT with other CVD risk factors in the rural-urban setting. Genetic polymorphisms of the PAI-1 gene did not directly influence CLT, despite influencing PAI-1act. The main contributor to PAI-1act variance, however, was (central) obesity. The effect of the 4G/5G polymorphism on PAI-1act, as well as gene–environment interactions for the C428T and G429A genotypes in determining PAI-1act and CLT, were significantly influenced by urbanisation. / Thesis (PhD (Nutrition))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

INTRODUCTION AND AIM The prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) has increased significantly in the black South African population in recent years. Early in the development of CVD, atherosclerotic plaques form in the vessel wall. When this plaque becomes unstable and ruptures, the coagulation cascade is activated and a blood clot forms. The function of this clot is to stop bleeding. However, it cannot remain in the vasculature indefinitely and has to be lysed again. The ability of the body to lyse clots can be measured with global fibrinolytic potential (GFP) assays and expressed as lysis time. Increased clot lysis time (CLT) has been shown to be significantly associated with various CVD risk factors and CVD events in Caucasian populations while very little information is available for other ethnicities. In this study we investigated plasma GFP and its relation to CVD risk factors in a large black African population. We also determined the effect of three polymorphisms in the promoter area of the plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) gene on PAI-1act (activity) levels (a main determinant of CLT) and CLT, together with gene-environment interactions and the effect of urbanisation on these interactions. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS Apparently healthy men and women between the ages of 35 and 65 years were recruited to take part in the South African arm of the Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study. Approximately 1000 rural and 1000 urban black African individuals participated. Data and samples were collected during a 12-week collection period in 2005 for cross-sectional analysis. RESULTS Increased PAI-1act levels, body mass index (BMI), glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c), triglycerides, fibrinogen concentration, C-reactive protein, female sex, positive HIV-status and the metabolic syndrome were all associated with prolonged CLTs, while increased habitual alcohol consumption was associated with shorter iv CLTs. Urban-rural differences for CLT existed in women only. This is likely due to the larger extent of rural-urban differences in other CVD risk factors observed in women compared to what was observed in men. Of the CVD risk factors measured, PAI-1 explained the largest proportion of the variance in CLT (27%). Owing to the important role PAI-1act plays in CLT, we investigated three polymorphisms in the PAI-1 gene promoter area (the 4G/5G polymorphism, the novel SNP C428T and SNP G429A (previously identified)), and the influence of these polymorphisms on PAI-1act levels and CLT. The frequency of the 5G allele was high (0.85) in comparison with previously reported literature. PAI-1act increased significantly across genotypes in the urban (5G/5G: 3.84 U/ml; 4G/5G: 4.85 U/ml; 4G/4G: 5.96 U/ml p=0.009) but not the rural subgroup, while CLT did not differ. We found significant interactions between the 4G/5G polymorphism and BMI, waist circumference and triglycerides in determining PAI-1act, and between the 4G/5G polymorphism and fibrinogen and fibrinogen gamma prime in determining CLT. Direct relationships with PAI-1act or CLT were not found for the C428T and G429A polymorphisms; they did, however, influence associations of other environmental factors with PAI-1act and CLT. Several of these interactions differed significantly between rural and urban subgroups, particularly in individuals harbouring the mutant alleles. CONCLUSION CLT associated with many of the same CVD risk factors described in the literature for Caucasian populations, but also with other risk factors. Rural-urban differences in CLT are dependent on the association of CLT with other CVD risk factors in the rural-urban setting. Genetic polymorphisms of the PAI-1 gene did not directly influence CLT, despite influencing PAI-1act. The main contributor to PAI-1act variance, however, was (central) obesity. The effect of the 4G/5G polymorphism on PAI-1act, as well as gene–environment interactions for the C428T and G429A genotypes in determining PAI-1act and CLT, were significantly influenced by urbanisation. / Thesis (PhD (Nutrition))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

Carboxypeptidase N (CPN) is a plasma carboxypeptidase that was discovered in the 1960s as a regulator of inflammation and vascular tone. Through the removal of carboxy-terminal basic residues, CPN alters the activity or binding specificity of inflammatory mediators and vasoactive peptides. CPN shares significant homology with carboxypeptidases known to mediate antifibrinolysis through the removal of basic residues from fibrin clots, which would otherwise stimulate fibrinolysis. Despite the similarity of these enzymes, CPN is generally regarded as lacking a role in fibrinolysis. This thesis demonstrates that CPN is indeed a capable antifibrinolytic enzyme, and that the antifibrinolytic activity of CPN was previously undisclosed due to the presence of a circulating CPN inhibitor, which is likely the free CPN2 subunit. This inhibitor is described for the first time here. Furthermore, potential mechanisms of inhibition and mechanisms of enhancing activity of CPN are proposed based upon the additional structural characterization of CPN presented here.

Orientador: Helia Harumi Sato / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia de Alimentos / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-06T15:33:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Fleuri_LucianaFrancisco_D.pdf: 2217112 bytes, checksum: 6e5410649f00f4a57c5ec78f758b6ebb (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006 / Resumo: O presente trabalho visou o estudo da produção, purificação e aplicação de b-1,3 glucanases, proteases e quitinases. A linhagem Cellulosimicrobium cellulans 191 foi utilizada para o estudo da produção de b-1,3 glucanases e quitinases e as linhagens B26 e C. cellulans 191 foram utilizadas para a produção de proteases, em meios de cultivo contendo diferentes indutores. Foram realizados planejamentos fatorias 23, e os fatores estudados foram: pH inicial, temperatura (oC) e agitação dos frascos. No planejamento experimental para a produção de b-1,3 glucanase foi verificado maior produção da enzima (0,64 U/mL) em meio de cultivo A composto por 2,0 g/L de (NH4)2SO4; 0,2 g/L de MgSO4.7H2O e 10 g/L de parede celular de levedura em tampão fosfato 0,2 M, pH 8,5, após 24 h de fermentação, a 33oC e 200 rpm. Nos planejamentos experimentais para a produção de protease pelas linhagens B26 e 191 foi verificado maior produção da enzima em meio de cultivo B composto por 2,0 g/L de (NH4)2SO4; 0,2 g/L de MgSO4.7H2O e 80 g/L de levedura seca utilizada como indutor em tampão fosfato 0,15 M, pH 6,5, após 30 h de fermentação a 20oC e 200 rpm, sendo obtido 5,01 U/mL e 4,25 U/mL, respectivamente. No planejamento experimental para a produção de quitinase foi verificado maior produção da enzima (7,06 U/mL) em meio de cultivo C composto por 4,0 g/L de extrato de levedura; 2,0 g/L de triptona; 4,0 g/L de MgSO4.7H2O; 1,2 g/L de KH2PO4; 2,8 g/L de K2HPO4 e 15 g/L de quitina neutralizada utilizada como indutor, com pH inicial de 5,5 após 72 h de fermentação a 25oC e 200 rpm. Todos os modelos obtidos foram preditivos e significativos a um nível de confiança de 95%. No estudo de produção das enzimas da linhagem C. cellulans 191 em fermentador de 5 L, a maior produção de b-1,3 glucanase, utilizando meio de cultivo A e 1,5 vvm e 3 vvm, foi respectivamente 0,32 U/mL e 0,72 U/mL, após 24 h de fermentação a 30oC. Na produção de protease em fermentador de 5 L, utilizando meio de cultivo B e 1,5 vvm foi obtido 1,87 U/mL e 2,34 U/mL, respectivamente, após 6 h e 30 h de fermentação a 30oC; enquanto que com 3 vvm, foi obtido 4,89 U/mL e 6,14 U/mL de protease após 6 h e 33 h de fermentação, a 30oC. Em fermentador de 5 L, a maior produção de quitinase em meio de cultivo C foi de 4,19 U/mL com 1,5 vvm após 168 h de fermentação e 4,38 U/mL de quitinase após 144 h de fermentação com 3 vvm, a 25oC. No estudo de produção de b-1,3 glucanases, proteases e quitinases da linhagem C. cellulans 191 em frascos agitados, em meios de cultivo A, B e C, foram produzidos respectivamente, 1,12 U/mL de b-1,3 glucanase; 4,2 U/mL de protease e 6,9 U/mL de quitinase. A b-1,3 glucanase (45 KDa) foi purificada 11,83 vezes com rendimento de 25% em resina de troca iônica DEAE-Sephadex A50. Na purificação das proteases em resina de troca iônica DEAE-Sephadex A50 foram obtidas três frações de proteases denominadas P1, P2 e P3. A fração P3 apresentou duas bandas de massas moleculares de 14 e 16 KDa em eletroforese SDS-PAGE. A quitinase (61 KDa) foi purificada cerca de 6,65 vezes com rendimento de 46,61% em resina de filtração em gel Sepharose CL4B200. A b-1,3 glucanase purificada apresentou atividade de lise de diversas leveduras e foi capaz de formar protoplastos da levedura Saccharomyces cerevisiae KL-88. O pré-tratamento das leveduras com protease P3 purificada não aumentou a lise das leveduras com a ß-1,3 glucanase. A quitinase purificada foi capaz de lisar células de algumas espécies de fungos em suspensão aquosa, mas não foi capaz de inibir, o crescimento dos fungos em placas de ágar batata dextrose. A preparação bruta de quitinase apresentou halo de inibição do crescimento de alguns fungos estudados. Os produtos formados pela reação da b-1,3 glucanase purificada sobre a laminarina e da protease purificada sobre a levedura seca apresentaram capacidade antioxidante / Abstract: The aim of this work was to study the production, purification and application of b-1,3 glucanases, proteases and chitinases. The strain Cellulosimicrobium cellulans 191 was used to study the production of b-1,3 glucanases and chitinases and strains B26 and C. cellulans 191 for the production of proteases, using culture media containing different inductors. 23 factorial experimental designs were performed and the factors studied were: initial pH, temperature (oC) and flask rotatory speed. In the experimental design for the production of b-1,3 glucanase, greater enzyme production (0.64 U/mL) was obtained in culture medium A containing 2.0 g/L (NH4)2SO4; 0.2 g/L MgSO4.7H2O and 10 g/L cell wall yeast in 0.2 M phosphate buffer, pH 8.5, after 24 h of fermentation at 33oC and 200 rpm. In the experimental design for the production of protease by strains B26 and 191, greater enzyme production was obtained in culture medium B containing 2.0 g/L (NH4)2SO4; 0.2 g/L de MgSO4.7H2O and 80 g/L dry yeast in 0.15 M phosphate buffer, pH 6.5, after 30 h of fermentation at 20oC and 200 rpm, with yields of 5.01 U/mL and 4.25 U/mL, respectively. In the experimental design for the production of chitinase, greater enzyme production (7.06 U/mL) was obtained in culture medium C containing 4.0 g/L yeast extract; 2.0 g/L tryptone; 4.0 g/L MgSO4.7H2O; 1.2 g/L KH2PO4; 2.8 g/L K2HPO4 and 15 g/L of neutralized chitin with an initial pH of 5.5, after 72 h of fermentation at 25oC and 200 rpm. All models obtained were predictive and significant at a confidence level of 95%. In the study on the production of enzymes from C. cellulans strain 191 in a 5 L fermenter, the highest productions of b-1,3 glucanase in medium A with 1.5 vvm and 3.0 vvm were 0.32 U/mL and 0.72 U/mL respectively, after 24 h of fermentation at 30oC. In the production of protease in a 5 L fermenter using culture medium B and 1.5 vvm, 1.87 U/mL and 2.34 U/mL were obtained after 6 h and 30 h respectively of fermentation at 30oC, whilst with 3 vvm, 4.89 U/mL and 6.14 U/mL of protease were obtained after 6 h and 33 h respectively of fermentation at 30oC. In a 5 L fermenter, the highest production of chitinase from C. cellulans strain 191 using 1.5 vvm was 4.19 U/mL after 168 h of fermentation, whilst with 3 vvm, the production was 4.38 U/mL of chitinase after 144 h of fermentation at 25oC. In the study on the production of b-1,3 glucanases, proteases and chitinases from C. cellulans strain 191 in shaken flasks and culture media A, B and C, 1.12 U/mL of b-1,3 glucanase; 4.2 U/mL of protease and 6.9 U/mL of chitinase were produced respectively. In the purification study, the b-1,3 glucanase (45 KDa) was purified 11.83 times with a yield of 25% using a DEAE-Sephadex A50 ion-exchange resin. In the purification of the proteases using the DEAE-Sephadex A50 ion-exchange resin, three protease fractions were obtained named P1, P2 and P3. Fraction P3 presented two proteins with molecular weights of 14 and 16 KDa in SDS-PAGE electrophoresis. The chitinase (61 KDa) was purified about 6.65 times with a yield of 46.61% in a Sepharose CL4B200 gel filtration resin. The purified b-1,3 glucanase presented lysis activity against several yeasts and was able to form protoplasts from the Saccharomyces cerevisiae KL-88 yeast. Pre-treatment of the yeasts with the purified protease P3 did not increase cell lysis by the b-1,3 glucanase. The purified chitinase was able to lyse the cell walls of some fungal species in aqueous suspension, but was not able to inhibit the growth of these fungi on potato dextrose agar plates. The crude chitinase preparation presented growth inhibition halos for some of the fungi studied. The products formed from the reaction between the purified b-1,3 glucanase and laminarin and between the purified protease and the dry yeast presented antioxidant power / Doutorado / Doutor em Ciência de Alimentos

There is an increasing demand for DNA analysis because of the sensitivity of the method and the ability to uniquely identify and distinguish individuals with a high degree of certainty. But this demand has led to huge backlogs in evidence lockers since the current DNA extraction protocols require long processing time. The DNA analysis procedure becomes more complicated when analyzing sexual assault casework samples where the evidence contains more than one contributor. Additional processing to separate different cell types in order to simplify the final data interpretation further contributes to the existing cumbersome protocols. The goal of the present project is to develop a rapid and efficient extraction method that permits selective digestion of mixtures. Selective recovery of male DNA was achieved with as little as 15 minutes lysis time upon exposure to high pressure under alkaline conditions. Pressure cycling technology (PCT) is carried out in a barocycler that has a small footprint and is semi-automated. Typically less than 10% male DNA is recovered using the standard extraction protocol for rape kits, almost seven times more male DNA was recovered from swabs using this novel method. Various parameters including instrument setting and buffer composition were optimized to achieve selective recovery of sperm DNA. Some developmental validation studies were also done to determine the efficiency of this method in processing samples exposed to various conditions that can affect the quality of the extraction and the final DNA profile. Easy to use interface, minimal manual interference and the ability to achieve high yields with simple reagents in a relatively short time make this an ideal method for potential application in analyzing sexual assault samples.

Despite the many advancements to forensic DNA analysis adopted by crime laboratories across the country, the most common method for the differential extraction of sexual assault samples has remained relatively unchanged since forensic deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) typing was discovered in 1985. As the quantity and quality of extracted DNA has significant implications on the success of subsequent analysis methods, the development and optimization of effective extraction procedures is vital to progressing the field of forensic DNA analysis. The graduate students and faculty at the Boston University School of Medicine have been developing a differential extraction process that utilizes a multi-enzymatic approach to preferentially lyse and wash the cell types within temperature controlled environments. The overall procedure is less labor-intensive and time-consuming than the conventional method. Through the extraction process, the inhibitory nature of each enzyme on the amplification process is avoided, circumventing the need for an additional purification step. A single centrifugation step is required in order to pellet the sperm while the cumbersome wash steps are replaced with selective digestion in order to remove the residual epithelial cell DNA from the sperm fraction. The three enzyme used (EA1, Benzonase®, and Acrosolv) operate optimally at distinct temperatures which allows for controlled and sequential activation to achieve desired lysis and digestion outcomes. The enzymatic reactions are conducted within a DNA extraction lab thermal cycler to obtain rapid and accurate temperature changes. This novel temperature controlled differential extraction protocol has been developed and optimized for extraction of primarily liquid mixed samples in 0.2 milliliter (mL) tubes. The epithelial cell lysis and sperm cell lysis stages of the extraction contained a final reaction volume of 100 microliters (µL). Slight modifications to this 100 direct-lysis differential extraction method resulted in a similarly efficient method with a high male DNA yield (74-100%) and minimal female carryover among varying ratios of epithelial cells to sperm cells. This sensitive technique provided nearly complete profiles (14/16 loci) of the male contributor in mixed samples containing ~15,200 female epithelial cells and ~500 sperm, with complete profiles observed in mixed samples containing ~1000 sperm. This modified extraction protocol better accommodates sample sizes that may be encountered in forensic casework testing while providing a more concentrated sperm fraction, possibly eliminating the need for an additional concentration step in some dilute samples. The ease of implementation and the rapid processing time of 2-3 hours make it a great candidate for use in forensic DNA laboratories and may help alleviate backlogs of sexual assault kit. However, further work is needed to alter the composition of the sperm lysis buffer to make it compatible with currently used amplification kits. Until such time, caution must be taken in the kit selection used for amplification of extracts produced with this method. This study also demonstrated a sensitivity of the GlobalFiler® PCR Amplification Kit to inhibition by the buffers used in this extraction protocol, particularly the Orange+ Buffer. This inhibition has dramatic effects on the profile quality of the amplified sperm fractions, with extensive allelic drop-out observed even when the Orange+ Buffer concentration was scaled from 1.0X to 0.2X. Amplification using the AmpFℓSTR® Identifiler® Plus PCR Amplification Kit showed marginal recovery in the profile quality. Other expanded-loci STR amplification kits may also demonstrate resistance to this inhibition.

In forensic casework, recovery of more deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) generally leads to a better chance of obtaining a robust and reliable DNA profile. However, DNA evidence often contains a very low amount of cells, therefore, the importance of proper collection and storage to protect the DNA and ensure that maximum collection of cells is achieved cannot be over emphasized. New techniques and inventions have made the collection of DNA evidence more efficient and consistent through the development of different types of swabs, lysing buffers and various other improvements. Even with the development of these improvements, the ability to maximize the collection of cellular material from a substrate is still impeded by various issues in the extraction process along with the structural properties of swabs used for collection. Research by Adamowicz et al. found that when extracting buccal and blood cell samples collected on cotton swabs, using the recommended protocol for swabs with the QIAamp DNA Investigator extraction kit, over 50% of the recoverable DNA is retained on the swab or lost through the extraction process [1]. Although cotton swabs are very good at absorbing biological material, they exhibit low efficiency of DNA sample release. Additional DNA may be lost during the extraction process. An optimal method of collection and extraction for forensic samples will maximize the collection and release of cellular material and minimize the loss of cellular DNA in the extraction process. The design of the Mawi DNA Technologies’ iSWABTM collection device allows for the release of cells captured from any type of swab into a proprietary lysis and stabilizing iSWABTM buffer. The combination of the mechanistic release of cells and the proprietary lysis buffer claims to maximize the collection of cells from single or several swabs in a pre-measured amount of buffer while eliminating the potential for bacterial growth and contamination. The iSWABTM Device is designed with three prongs and contains cell lysis buffer with DNA stabilization chemistry. As the swab is taken out of the collection device, the prongs provide resistance and essentially squeeze the excess solution and cells off of the swab. Following collection of the cellular material, cell lysis is achieved by incubation in the lysis buffer for 3 hours at room temperature. No additional reagents are necessary. This study investigated whether the Mawi DNA Technologies’ iSWABTM collection device and buffer could be considered as an alternative method to maximize the recovery of cells/DNA from swabs. Experiments were conducted to test the efficiency and forensic application of the device. The following parameters of the iSWABTM buffer and collection device were tested: 1) ability to collect dried stains; 2) ability to recover cellular material from different types and conditions of swabs; 3) ability to lyse different cell types; 4) ability to stabilize DNA over an extended period of time; and, 5) ability to perform in downstream Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing and produce quality STR profiles. Cumulatively, the data indicates that the iSWABTM-ID collection device is simple, fast and convenient while providing high DNA recovery. Some modifications or additional procedure developments can be done to facilitate the application for use with samples containing very small amounts of biological materials.