Detection of forensically relevant body fluids using specific biomarkers through flow cytometry Tewari Saumya1, Mishra Munish Kumar2, Tripathi Vijay3, Saran Vaibhav4,* 1Research Scholar, Department of Forensic Science, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology, and Sciences, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh 2Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Science, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology, and Sciences, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh 3Assistant Professor, Department of Molecular and Cellular Engineering, JIBB, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology, and Sciences, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh 4Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Science, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology, and Sciences, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh *Corresponding Author: Dr. Vaibhav Saran Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Science, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology, and Sciences, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, E-mail: vaibhav.saran@shiats.edu.in Contact : +91-9452629228
Online published on 19 December, 2023. Abstract Introduction Detection and identification of body fluids have been at the forefront of forensic professionals and researchers for the past two decades, due to the decisive role played by genetic and non-genetic information imparted by the body fluids. Techniques such as spectroscopic methods, DNA methylation, messenger RNA profiling, etc. are being explored extensively for the detection and identification of body fluids. Although these techniques are promising, their specificity and the need for intricate bioinformatic procedures for their data interpretation are still under investigation. On the other hand, Flow cytometry is an emerging single-cell analysis technique that has already established itself in various domains of basic and applied sciences. The main attribute of this technique to analyze multiple parameters of a single cell in a complex cellular population shows its potential for incorporation in the forensic analysis of body fluids. Mixed body fluid identification has always been a challenge to a forensic serologist as due to the low quantity of samples, it gets difficult to analyze them through traditional techniques. However, this study focuses on the detection and identification of mixed body fluids based on specific protein biomarkers. Aim Detection of body fluids (blood, saliva, and urine) based on specific protein biomarkers using cytometric bead array flow cytometry. Materials and Method Samples were collected from 10 healthy donors, selected through stratified sampling from Prayagraj after written consent and subjected to cytometric bead array flow cytometry for the detection of specific body fluid biomarkers. Body fluids were analyzed by calculating median fluorescence intensities for selected biomarkers in body fluid combinations. Results MFI values of specific biomarkers in pure body fluid samples ranges between 90–150 and in binary mixtures of body fluids (1:1 ratio), ranges between 80 – 130. In case of other proportions (ratios of 1:3, 1:5, 3:1, and 5:1) MFI values of biomarkers range between 40 – 80 and 100 – 240 for positive detections. However, MFI values below 20 were considered as negative detection for that biomarker. Conclusion Flow cytometry successfully identifies the body fluids based on their biomarkers even in trace quantity or in mixed states. However, in mixed state conditions, the MFI for the body fluid in larger quantity was considerably large in contrast to the one which was present in traced amount. Top Keywords Body Fluid Identification, Flow Cytometry, Gmcsf, Epcam, Uromodulin. Top |