Korean J Leg Med.  2012 May;36(1):74-84. 10.7580/KoreanJLegMed.2012.36.1.74.

DNA-Based Identification of Necrophagous Fly Species Using Abdominal-B (Abd-B) Homeobox Sequence

• Piao HG
• Chung U
• Shin SE
• Ko KS
• Hwang JJ

• KMID: 2250322
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7580/KoreanJLegMed.2012.36.1.74

Abstract

In medicolegal investigations, correct identification of the necrophagous fly species collected around and on the corpse is an essential step for estimating the postmortem interval (PMI). Therefore, forensic pathologists and entomologists investigating deaths due to violent crimes need a rapid, easy-to-use protocol to identify fly species found on corpses. A rapid and robust DNA-based tool that can distinguish between various immature and mature species from the Calliphoridae, Muscidae, and Sarcophagidae families would be ideal for such investigations. To date, the DNA barcode initiative is the best approach for identifying species-specific nucleotide sequences. We have developed 3 sequence-characterized amplified region (SCAR)-based identification systems derived from the Abdominal-B homeobox sequences of 17 fly species belonging to the Muscidae and Sarcophagidae. The flies used in this study were collected in Korea. These assay systems can classify 17 forensically important fly species into the dipteran family group and reliably distinguish them from inter- and intraspecific fly species through a 2-step multiplex PCR. This novel approach may also be used as an alternative to conventional DNA-based identification methods.

Keyword

necrophagous fly; Abdominal-B; identification; postmortem interval

MeSH Terms

Base Sequence
Cadaver
Crime
Diptera
DNA
Genes, Homeobox
Humans
Korea
Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction
Muscidae
Sarcophagidae
DNA

Figure

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  Fig. 1 A phylogenetic tree for 31 species of necrophagous flies, based on Abd-B homeobox sequence. Out-group is used that of Drosophila melanogester.

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  Fig. 2 Electophoregram showing family-specific SCAR marker for necrophagous flies detected by family identification multiplex PCR system (a; Calliphoridae, b; Muscidae, c; Sarcophagiae).

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  Fig. 3 Electrophoregram showing each species-specific SCAR markers for 10 Muscidae species detected by the multiplex PCR system.

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  Fig. 4 Electrophoregram showing each species-specific SCAR markers for 7 Sarcophagidae species detected by the multiplex PCR system.

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