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DNA profiling through the analysis of STRs remains one of the most widely used tools in human identification across the world. Current laboratory STR analysis is slow, costly and requires expert users and interpretation which can lead to instances of delayed investigations or non-testing of evidence on budget grounds. The ParaDNA(®) Intelligence System has been designed to provide a simple, fast and robust way to profile DNA samples in a lab or field-deployable manner. The system analyses 5-STRs plus amelogenin to deliver a DNA profile that enables users to gain rapid investigative leads and intelligent prioritisation of samples in human identity testing applications. Utilising an innovative sample collector, minimal training is required to enable both DNA analysts and nonspecialist personnel to analyse biological samples directly, without prior processing, in approximately 75min. The test uses direct PCR with fluorescent HyBeacon(®) detection of STR allele lengths to provide a DNA profile. The developmental validation study described here followed the Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods (SWGDAM) guidelines and tested the sensitivity, reproducibility, accuracy, inhibitor tolerance, and performance of the ParaDNA Intelligence System on a range of mock evidence items. The data collected demonstrate that the ParaDNA Intelligence System displays useful DNA profiles when sampling a variety of evidence items including blood, saliva, semen and touch DNA items indicating the potential to benefit a number of applications in fields such as forensic, military and disaster victim identification (DVI).

The occurrence and incidence of a characteristic banding abnormality in a No. 14 chromosome has been studied in Burkitt-lymphoma-derived and certain other EB virus-associated lymphoblastoid cell lines. The abnormality was readily detected in 7 out of 7 Burkitt lines, and when present could be seen in 100% of cells with recognizable No. 14 chromosomes. In contrast, the abnormality was not observed in 775 cells from 31 infectious mononucleosis-derived lines nor in 450 cells from 18 lines obtained from cord blood lymphocytes experimentally transformed by EB virus in vitro. The significance of the abnormality as an indication of cells transformed by the virus in vivo is discussed, and the importance of this considered in relation to a possible oncogenic role for EB virus in man.

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In comparison with healthy adults, elderly patients and patients who had received renal transplants had significantly lower lymphoproliferative responses to rotavirus (P = 0.04, P = 0.002, respectively) and phytohaemagglutinin (P = 0.001). However, following acute rotavirus infection, elderly persons mounted good lymphoproliferative and specific antibody responses to rotavirus. No lymphoproliferative response or specific antibody to rotavirus was detected in a child with cartilage hair hypoplasia. In cord blood samples, specific antibodies were detected in the absence of a lymphoproliferative response to rotavirus. Increases in lymphoproliferative responses as well as specific antibodies were not detected in immune adult recipients of a human rotavirus vaccine (RIT 4375), but a recipient of a bovine vaccine (RIT 4237) had an increase in lymphoproliferative response to rotavirus between 13 and 28 days postvaccination. Stimulation indices for both rotavirus and phytohaemagglutinin within the vaccine groups were comparable to the healthy laboratory personnel group.