title: Application of an immunological method to detect trace amounts of dried human semen.
abstract: An immunological assay based on a monoclonal antibody was used for identification of trace amounts of dried human semen in forensic science evidence. The monoclonal antibody (Mab 4E6) produced recognizes a human sperm-coating antigen which is specific to human seminal plasma. This antigen seems to be a protein secreted by the epithelial cells of the ejaculatory duct, which is stable indefinitely at room temperature. Mab 4E6 reacts positively with semen samples from individuals independently to their ABO group or secretory status, but does not react with semen from bull, ram, boar, horse, rabbit and dog. In the assay system developed, Mab 4E6 can detect human seminal plasma at concentrations of 0.5 micrograms/ml total protein. A similar sensitivity is found when human semen stains are eluted from forensic science samples and tested by the same assay. This method shows a good correlation with the microscopic methods routinely used. The method described is very sensitive and reproducible, it is time saving and special laboratory equipment is not needed.
authors: Institute of Biology and Immunology of Reproduction, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia.
authors: S D
authors: SD
authors: Kyurkchiev
authors: I R
authors: IR
authors: Kehayov
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Tsankov
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Dimitrova
mesh_terms: D000017:ABO Blood-Group System; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis*; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D002417:Cattle; D003429:Cross Reactions; D004285:Dogs; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D000939:Epitopes / Q000032:analysis; D006736:Horses; D006801:Humans; D006825:Hybridomas; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011817:Rabbits; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012661:Semen / Q000032:analysis*; D012756:Sheep; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D000017:ABO Blood-Group System; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D000939:Epitopes