Specimens

The proper handling of specimens for direct storage or DNA extraction and characterization is one of the most important aspects of the profiling procedure. Because DNA typing is not yet a routine test, some laboratories may perform only the isolation portion of the overall analysis and leave the other methodologies to specialized centers. Profiling may never be required for many forensic specimens and only intermediate storage needed. It is essential that smaller centers have at least the facilities to isolate, characterize, and store DNA. A broad range of DNA sources exists. Fresh tissue usually includes whole blood, buccal epithelial cells, and hair follicles. Under special circumstances, in the medical setting, the genotyping of amniotic fluid cells, chorionic villus samples, and tissue culture fibroblasts may be required. Dried specimens usually include blood and semen stains, tooth pulp, and bone marrow. Animal trophy heads and pelts are also sources of dried DNA. Preserved or unpreserved human autopsy specimens, and tissues from animal gut piles and frozen meat, are other possible sources of DNA. As with any biological test, the quality of the results can be no better than the quality of the input sample. If the DNA is highly degraded or contaminated, it may be unusable; thus, every effort should be taken to collect, record, transport, store, and isolate materials using meticulous techniques. The specimen of choice is 1 ml or more of fresh whole EDTA blood. Anticoagulants other than EDTA may be acceptable; however, there are reports that heparin interferes with the activity of certain restriction enzymes. The quantity of DNA isolated from 1 ml of blood is usually sufficient for the necessary testing and a considerably smaller sample will often suffice. There are occasions, however, when the DNA yield is low and a repeat specimen is required; for this reason it is prudent to collect an additional sample if possible. Buccal epithelial cells obtained from mouth swabs, and hair follicles are two other general sources of fresh DNA; however, the DNA may require amplification by the polymerase chain reaction to provide sufficient material for analysis.

Author(s):  
I. Dmitrik ◽  
G. Zavgorodnyaya

The morphological and histological features of the skin and wool cover of sheep as the basis for the quality of fur sheep pelts have been studied. The most important properties of sheep pelts (uniformity, thinness and density of wool) are provide the possibility of producing high-quality fur semi-finished products from them. However, the features of the histostructure of fine-wool sheep determine the low mechanical strength of the “facial” layer of skin. As a result, the “front” layer during processing often cracks to the upper border of the reticular layer or even peels off from the latter, making the sheep pelt unsuitable for use on fur products. These defects in fur practice are called “cracking” and “peeling” of the facial layer. They are mainly peculiar to sheep pelts of fine-wooled sheep. In these animals due to the high density and tone of the coat, the roots and hair follicles, root vaginas, secretory departments, excretory ducts of the glands and other structures occupy a significant share of the volume in the thickness of the Pilar layer (up to 25–30 %). The share of fibrous structures remains less volume, and these structures themselves are relatively weakly developed, located loosely and loosely intertwined with each other. The accumulations of fat cells that occur here also cannot be attributed to skin-strengthening elements. In fine-fleece sheep the pilar layer is on average 60 % of the thickness of the dermis. Therefore, more than half of its thickness is a weakened zone. The strength of the “front” layer is not the same in different fine-wool breeds of sheep and in different animals within the breed. For example, the average breaking load for cod of the “front” layer in Soviet Merino pelts is 1,25 kg, and in Precoce is 2,49 kg.


1984 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 381-388 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. R. Merrell ◽  
R. I. Walker ◽  
S. W. Joseph

The initial interaction and adherence of Vibrio parahemolyticus to epithelial tissue culture cells, human buccal epithelial cells, and the ileal mucosa of mice were studied. Using scanning electron microscopy, adherent bacteria were observed only on degenerating human embryonic intestinal, HeLa, and buccal cells; healthy normal cells were devoid of bacteria. Sheared V. parahaemolyticus, i.e., lacking flagella, did not adhere to either normal or degenerating tissue cells. Neither ultraviolet-inactivated organisms nor cell-free culture supernate affected the epithelial cells. Similar findings were observed on the mucosa of the ileum in mice inoculated with V. parahaemolyticus. It appears that V. parahaemolyticus possesses a cytotoxic factor which alters epithelial cells. This factor appears to be closely associated with viable organisms and may be a functional element in the adherence process of flagellated V. parahaemolyticus to mammalian epithelial cells.


1980 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 1146-1151 ◽  
Author(s):  
D E Woods ◽  
D C Straus ◽  
W G Johanson ◽  
V K Berry ◽  
J A Bass

Adherence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa organisms to the upper respiratory epithelium of seriously ill patients in vitro is correlated with subsequent colonization of the respiratory tract by this opportunistic pathogen. The role of pili in the attachment to epithelial cells of P. aeruginosa was studied in an in vitro system employing human buccal epithelial cells and P. aeruginosa pretreated by various means. Pretreatment of the bacteria with proteases, heat, or Formalin caused a significant decrease in adherence. A decrease when compared with controls was also noted in the adherence of P. aeruginosa organisms to buccal epithelial cells preincubated with purified pili prepared from the strain used for adherence testing; however, pili prepared from a heterologous strain failed to block adherence. Similar results were obtained in serological studies when antisera to purified pili prepared from the strain used for adherence testing decreased adherence, whereas heterologous antiserum to pili did not decrease adherence. From these results it appears that pili mediate the adherence of P. aeruginosa organisms to human buccal epithelial cells.


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