"Bottom‐up" in situ proteomic differentiation of human and non‐human haemoglobins for forensic purposes by matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight tandem mass spectrometry

Abstract

The MALDI-TOF-MS-based in situ "bottom-up" proteomic methodology described here shows great promise for the detection of human blood and even imaging of blood in bloodied fingermarks. The approach is sensitive, can differentiate between human blood and that from many animals (including several Australian native animals), and can be implemented after traditional crime scene fingermark enhancement techniques have been carried out.

Criminal profiling through MALDI MS based technologies – breaking barriers towards border-free forensic science

“…Since 2014, huge analytical efforts have been also put into the reliable detection of blood in both stains and fingermarks [16][17][18][19] , since its detection is crucial for the crime scene dynamics reconstruction within violent crimes including murders (especially with no body).…”

“…Although this method of detecting blood is more specific, specificity can be further increased to the application of a bottom up proteomic approach in combination with MALDI MS 17,18 .…”

“…The Home Office CAST (UK) intellectually and financially supported this idea through a PhD programme. The major outcomes were the demonstration that it is possible to detect and visualise blood protein signatures in stains and in fingermarks [17][18][19] even from very old specimens (a 9 year old blood palm print 17 and a 37 year old blood mark on fabric (Fig. 2 ) which were previously enhanced by Acid Black 1 and ninhydrin respectively.…”

Pre-validation of a MALDI MS proteomics-based method for the reliable detection of blood and blood provenance

“…The inclusion of multiple blood-specific proteins is a more specific approach compared to those previously described as, although HB is specific to blood, it may be found as a trace contaminant in other biofluids. Furthermore, Bradshaw et al 8 Patel et al 9 and Kamanna et al 10 demonstrated the possibility to determine blood provenance which can be valuable in an investigation.…”

Combined DNA Typing and Protein Identification from Unfired Brass Cartridges,,,

“…KEYWORDS: forensic science, contact trace, brass cartridge, tape collection, protein DNA co-extraction With advanced instrumentation and data analysis software proteomics is not only a rising field in clinical and basic research, but has also yielded several forensic applications. Protein mass spectrometry has been successfully employed for body fluid, tissue, and species identification (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6), with some applications even pursuing in situ detection (7,8). Human proteins are known to exhibit genetic differences between individuals with amino acid sequence changes representing the corresponding nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (nSNPs) at the DNA level.…”