OPOLE SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY
NATURE JOURNAL
No 45 – 2012: 55-64
DETECTION AND IDENTIFICATION OF ALIEN DNA IN MUSEUM SPECIMENS OF
HETEROPTERA USING MOLECULAR TECHNIQUES – A POSSIBILITY FOR APPLYING IN
*
FORENSIC ENTOMOLOGY
ALEKSANDRA RAKOWIECKA, JERZY A. LIS1
Center for Biodiversity Studies, Department of Biosystematics, Opole University,
Oleska 22, 45-052 Opole, Poland;
1
e-mail: cydnus@uni.opole.pl, http://www.cydnidae.uni.opole.pl
ABSTRACT: Studies on nuclear DNA of museum specimens of pentatomoid bugs (Cydnidae,
Dinidoridae, Thyreocoridae, and Tessaratomidae) are presented. Sequences of nuclear 28S rDNA
subunit were analysed in the aspect of its usefulness in forensic entomology. Results of the study
demonstrated that microorganisms and parasites detected by PCR methods can be useful in
determining the geographical origin of the host-species with degraded DNA.
KEY WORDS: forensic entomology, nuclear DNA, 28S rDNA, Heteroptera, Pentatomoidea, museum
specimens, alien DNA.
Introduction
In last two decades, molecular techniques have been applied in many fields of science, such as
phylogenetics, biogeography, medicine or forensic investigations. Nowadays, the analysis of DNA
extracted from biological traces is widely used, especially in modern forensic investigations, where a
molecular approach to identification of both, victims and criminals, are used to a large extent.
Nuclear DNA in particular, seems to be a significant source for such analyses; however, also
mitochondrial markers showed good feasibilities in human or animal species identification (Bellis et
al. 2003, Caenazzo et al. 2008, Lis et al. 2011).
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
*
This paper presents partial results of the first author’s Master’s thesis (Detection and identification of microorganisms and parasites in museum
specimens using molecular techniques – a possibility for applying in forensic biology), submitted to the Department of Biosystematics, Opole
University, Opole, Poland, under the supervision of Prof. Jerzy A. Lis.
56
Application of DNA obtained from insects found at a crime scene can be regarded as the
entirely new approach in forensic entomology. Since the late 19th century, insects are used to
estimate PMI (post mortem interval) in homicide and other investigations. Most recently, many
studies have demonstrated that DNA extracted from insect tissues can provide more informative
evidences for investigations. In literature, there are numerous papers describing cases when a variety
of blood feeding insects were used even to obtain human DNA (e.g., Wells et al. 2001, Spitaleri et al.
2006, Szalanski et al. 2006, Bucheli et al. 2010, Kester et al. 2010, Rasmy 2011).
However, there are no papers which present the utility of alien DNA, obtained from the insect
tissues, in forensic investigations. Therefore, in this paper the usefulness of alien DNA for such
studies is considered.
Material and methods
17 samples from museum specimens of four families of pentatomoid bugs (Cydnidae, Dinidoridae,
Thyreocoridae, Tessaratomidae – Table 1) were selected for nuclear DNA analyses (one region of
nDNA, i.e., 28S rDNA was analysed). All specimens come from the Heteroptera collection at the
Department of Biosystematics (Opole University, Poland) (Lis et al. 2011).
DNA extraction, purification and amplification were performed at the Centre for Biodiversity
Studies (Department of Biosystematics, Opole University, Poland) using techniques described by Lis
et al. (2011).
Two primer sequences, i.e., 28Sa and 28Sb, were used for PCR amplification (Whiting et al.
1997, Edgecombe et al. 2002.). Sequencing was conducted at the Health Care Centre GENOMED
(Warsaw, Poland). The trace files (electropherograms) produced by the automated DNA sequencers
were edited by the Trace Data File Editor – Figs 1-8).
For identification of alien DNA found in studied insects, obtained sequences were sent to the
Web Browser for conducting BLAST searches (using blastn on NCBI).
Results
Readable sequences were obtained from all studied specimens. Unfortunately, no traces of original
species DNA were recovered (all obtained sequences represented alien DNA). Sequences length
varies from 60 bp to 338 bp (see Table 2, and Figures 1-8), and, usually, are characterized by a high
level of noises.
In five cases (see Table 2) obtained sequences suggested similarities of studied DNA to DNA
of Saccoglossus kowalevskii (Hemichordata), seven sequences suggested similarities to fungi, two –
to species of Cryptosporidiidae (Apicomplexa), another two – to species of Drosophila (Diptera),
and one – to Nematostella vectensis (Cnidaria). No similarity of the recovered sequence to any
species from GenBank was found only for Strombosoma impictum (Thyreocoridae), most probably
because of its sequence length (60 bp) and high level of degradation.
57
Discussion
Fungi. Though seven obtained sequences of alien DNA suggested close similarities to fungi species
(Table 2), in four cases more than a single result were received from GenBank for each entry, i.e., for
Ochetostethus balcanicus, Coridius laosanus, Megymenum paralleum, and Galgupha difficilis. Such
situation may be caused by unclear systematic position of many fungi species, e.g., resulted
Lodderomyces elongisporus can be a sexual stage of Candida parapsilosis, which is closely related
to C. tropicalis (James et al. 1994).
All fungi species, for which DNA was sequenced, are distributed worldwide (according to the
Global Biodiversity Information Facility [GBIF] website). It seems possible that in all cases this
alien DNA originated from a contact with man (i.e., Malassezia globosa, Ajellomyces dermatidis,
Penicillium marneffei – suggesting human skin diseases; Candida tropicalis – usually occurring on
human hands), or, was acquired from host plants during feeding process (Phaeosphaeria nodorum,
Ashbya gossypii, Mycosphaerella punctiformis, Botryosphaeria dothidea – all are plant pathogens)
(Smith and Stanosz 2001, Verkley 2004, Phillips et al. 2005, Hospenthal and Rinaldi 2008, Kirk et
al. 2008, Blixt 2009).
Apicomplexa. Two pathogenic protists, i.e., Cryptosporidium hominis and C. parvum were detected
in Peltoxys sataranus and Coridius laosanus (Table 2). Both protist species are human parasites;
moreover, C. parvum, is also pathogenic to cattle (Hashim et al. 2006). Most probably this alien
DNA originated from a contact with man, because studied specimens of both heteropterans come
from India and China, where both pathogens are injurious to people (Hashim et al. 2006).
Cnidaria. In one case (i.e., Coridius nepalensis), results of our DNA study show similarities to DNA
of Nematostella vectensis (Cnidaria). According to the Global Biodiversity Information Facility
[GBIF] website, this cnidarian species of the family Edwardsiidae, is distributed from eastern coasts
of the United States to the southern coasts of Great Britain. Because, the similarity of DNA
sequences is relatively low (84%) and concerns only 195 bp (out of the total 288 bp) we assume this
result as totally unbelievable, but we can’t give a sound explanation for it (see also: Putnam et al.
2007).
Diptera. Also, in Tessarotoma quadrata, results of the DNA study was ambiguous (see Table 2),
i.e., 100% similarity, but only on the length of 79 bp (out of the total 325 bp). Most probably, the
presence of DNA of other (parasitic) dipteran species, which DNA was never before sequenced (and
therefore not present in GenBank), is the only explanation.
Hemichordata. In five cases (Table 2) obtained results indicated a similarity of alien DNA to DNA
of Saccoglossus kowalevskii (class Enteropneusta). Because, it is impossible to find this species
inside the insect body, we assume this fact as a result of a contamination by human DNA (see also:
Acorn Worm Genome Project, www.hgsc.bcm.edu/content/acorn-worm-genome-project).
58
Conclusions
In forensic entomology, when a crime has been committed, most often a murder, insects around and
on the victim‘s body become the very important evidence. The precise DNA sequence of insects that
appear on a corpse has been carefully documented by forensic entomologists.
Such data are usually utilized for estimation of post-mortem interval (PMI), to locate scenes
of murder crimes, and for toxicological analyses in the absence of human tissues and fluids normally
taken for such purposes.
Results of the present study have additionally demonstrated the potential utility of insects as
good samples of alien DNA, which can be utilized for forensic purposes. The presence of alien DNA
(e.g., DNA of fungi, or parasite DNA) in insect tissues may provide helpful information for resolving
the problem of geographic origin of forensically important samples; as the most important this can be
used to locate scenes of murder crimes.
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60
Table 1. Details of examined specimens.
Species and family
Geographic origin
Year collected
Adrisa flavomarginata (Voll.)
Cydnidae
New Caledonia
2008
Adrisa flavomarginata (Voll.)
Cydnidae
New Caledonia
2008
Chilocoris assmuthi Bredd.
Cydnidae
Pakistan
1972
Ochetostethus balcanicus Wagn.
Cydnidae
Croatia
1957
Peltoxys sataranus Lis & Lis
Cydnidae
India
2002
Pseudoscoparipes nilgiricus Lis
Cydnidae
India
1976
Coridius laosanus (Dist.)
Dinidoridae
China
1915
Coridius nepalensis (Westw.)
Dinidoridae
Thailand
1995
Coridius prolixus (Leth.)
Dinidoridae
Togo
1954
Cyclopelta obscura (Leth. & Serv.)
Dinidoridae
Thailand
1995
Cyclopelta siccifolia (Westw.)
Dinidoridae
Nepal
1986
Cyclopelta siccifolia (Westw.)
Dinidoridae
Sri Lanka
1894
Megymenum brevicorne (F.)
Dinidoridae
Thailand
1995
Megymenum paralleum Voll.
Dinidoridae
Thailand
1995
Tessarotoma quadrata Dist.
Tessaratomidae
Vietnam
1990
Galgupha difficilis (Bredd.)
Thyreocoridae
Brasil
1975
Strombosoma impictum (Stål)
Thyreocoridae
Zaire
1932
61
Table 2. Similarities of obtained sequences to those available from GenBank (using BLAST); (length
of the sequence and similarity percentage for each species are shown in square brackets).
Studied species
Family [length of sequence in bp]
Highest similarity to species from GenBank
Adrisa flavomarginata
Cydnidae [338]
Saccoglossus kowalevskii [93% (311)]
Harrimaniidae (Hemichordata)
Adrisa flavomarginata
Cydnidae [338]
Saccoglossus kowalevskii [93% (311)]
Harrimaniidae (Hemichordata)
Chilocoris assmuthi
Cydnidae [335]
Saccoglossus kowalevskii [92% (305)]
Harrimaniidae (Hemichordata)
Ochetostethus balcanicus
Cydnidae [295]
Phaeosphaeria nodorum [92% (411)]
Phaeosphaeriaceae (Fungi: Dothideomycetes)
Lodderomyces elongisporus [92% (411)]
Debaryomycetaceae (Fungi: Saccharomycetes)
Peltoxys sataranus
Cydnidae [292]
Cryptosporidium hominis [95% (279)]
Cryptosporidiidae (Apicomplexa: Eucoccidiorida)
Pseudoscoparipes nilgiricus
Cydnidae [291]
Malassezia globosa [89% (357)]
Malasseziaceae (Fungi: Exobasidiomycetes)
Coridius laosanus
Dinidoridae [287]
Cryptosporidium hominis [88% (183)]
Cryptosporidiidae (Apicomplexa: Eucoccidiorida)
Cryptosporidium parvum [88% (183)]
Cryptosporidiidae (Apicomplexa: Eucoccidiorida)
Coridius nepalensis
Dinidoridae [288]
Nematostella vectensis [84% (195)]
Edwardsiidae (Cnidaria: Actiniaria)
Coridius prolixus
Dinidoridae [288]
Malassezia globosa [81% (237)]
Malasseziaceae (Fungi: Exobasidiomycetes)
Cyclopelta obscura
Dinidoridae [330]
Saccoglossus kowalevskii [92% (305)]
Harrimaniidae (Hemichordata)
Cyclopelta siccifolia
Dinidoridae [290]
Mycosphaerella punctiformis [87% (327)]
Mycosphaerellaceae (Fungi: Dothideomycetes)
Cyclopelta siccifolia
Dinidoridae [293]
Botryosphaeria dothidea [85% (313)]
Botryosphaeriaceae (Fungi: Dothideomycetes)
Megymenum brevicorne
Dinidoridae [337]
Saccoglossus kowalevskii [91% (302)]
Harrimaniidae (Hemichordata)
62
Megymenum paralleum
Dinidoridae [326]
Talaromyces stipitatus [88% (361)]
Trichocomaceae (Fungi: Eurotiomycetes)
Penicillium marneffei [88% (361)]
Trichocomaceae (Fungi: Eurotiomycetes)
Ajellomyces dermatitidis [88% (361)]
Ajellomycetaceae (Fungi: Eurotiomycetes)
Galgupha difficilis
Thyreocoridae [290]
Candida tropicalis [84% (315)]
Incertae sedis (Fungi: Saccharomycetes)
Penicillium marneffei [84% (315)]
Trichocomaceae (Fungi: Eurotiomycetes)
Ashbya gossypii [84% (315)]
Saccharomycetaceae (Fungi: Saccharomycetes)
Strombosoma impictum
Thyreocoridae [60]
No similarity found
Tessarotoma quadrata
Tessaratomidae [325]
Drosophila simulans [100% (79)]
Drosophilidae (Diptera)
Drosophila melanogaster [100% (79)]
Drosophilidae (Diptera)
63
Figures 1-4. Electropherograms showing the same fragment of selected sequences. 1 – Adrisa
flavomarginata (Cydnidae), 2 – Ochetostethus balcanicus (Cydnidae), 3 – Pseudoscoparipes
nilgiricus (Cydnidae), 4 – Coridius laosanus (Dinidoridae).
64
Figures 5-8. Electropherograms showing the fragment of selected sequences. 5 – Coridius nepalensis
(Dinidoridae), 6 – Megymenum paralleum (Dinidoridae), 7 – Galgupha difficilis (Thyreocoridae), 8
– Strombosoma impictum (Thyreocoridae).