D. Ross Williams

Population genetic data for 17 Y STR markers from Benghazi (East Libya)

The seventeen Y-STR loci included in the AmpFℓSTR(®) Yfiler™ PCR Amplification kit (DYS19, DYS389I, DYS389II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, DYS393, DYS385a/b, DYS438, DYS439, DYS437, DYS448, DYS458, DYS456, DYS635, and Y-GATA-H4) were used to type a sample population of 238 males from eastern Libya (Benghazi region). Of 238 observed haplotypes, 214 were unique (90%) and 24 (10%) were found more than once. The 17 loci gave a discriminating power of 0.999. DYS458 showed the highest diversity as a single-locus marker (0.73). Allelic frequencies and gene diversities for each Y-STR locus were determined. The high haplotype diversity and discrimination capacity (0.996) demonstrate the utility of these loci for human identification in forensic applications. Comparative analysis with Y-STR datasets of relevant populations and submission of the haplotypes to the Y-STR Haplotype Reference Database (YHRD) was undertaken.

Announcement of population data: genetic data for 17 Y-STR AmpFℓSTR® Yfiler™ markers from an immigrant Pakistani population in the UK (British Pakistanis).

We have analysed 17 Y-chromosomal STR markers (DYS19, DYS389I, DYS389II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, DYS393, DYS385a/b, DYS438, DYS439, DYS437, DYS448, DYS456, DYS458, DYS635, and Y-GATA-H4) for a British Pakistani population. According to the 2010 census, there are more than 1.2 million British Pakistanis in the UK. Substantial numbers of Pakistani immigrants arrived in the UK in the 1950s and 60s and settled mostly in Yorkshire, Lancashire, and in cities such as Birmingham, Bradford, Manchester, Newcastle-on-Tyne and Glasgow in Scotland [1]. By 2001, British Pakistanis were mostly concentrated in the North, West Midlands and London [1] and [2]. Pakistani immigrants came as students to study in British universities, skilled medical doctors to fill medical professional shortage in NHS and as factory workers due to labour shortages in the UK [1]. This population has adopted the life and culture of the UK, however, consanguinity is high [3] and [4].

Genetic data provided by 15 autosomal STR loci in the Libyan population living in Benghazi

We undertook research that investigated the genetic diversity of the population of the city of Benghazi. This city is located in the northeast of Libya, on the Gulf of Sidra, a part of the Mediterranean Sea. Libya became independent in 1951 after a brief period as an Italian colony; it was invaded by Italy in 1911. In February 2011, there was an uprising against the Libyan government initiated in the city of Benghazi which led to a revolution that is ongoing. Benghazi is the second largest city in Libya, and the most dominating in the eastern Cyrenaica region, and is the capital of the district of Benghazi. The population of Benghazi was 500, 120 in the 1995 census and increased to 670,797 in the 2006 census. Throughout its history, Benghazi has developed with a certain level of independence from the more Maghreb (west) oriented capital, Tripoli. This has influenced the city and, as such, the cultural atmosphere in Benghazi is more Arab in nature than that in Tripoli. The city of Benghazi was first inhabited by Berbers, followed by Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs and Ottomans. An influx of African, Egyptian, Iraqi, Palestinian, Sudanese and Syrian immigrants has also influenced the citys culture to a certain extent in recent years. This history of different waves of migration (genetic influx) makes Benghazi an interesting city for studies of intrapopulation genetic diversity. The main aim of the this study was to determine the genetic structure of the population of the city of Benghazi using 15 autosomal short tandem repeats (STR) loci and to evaluate the usefulness of these loci for forensic genetic purposes.

Genetic variation comparison of 15 autosomal STR loci in an immigrant population living in the UK (British Pakistanis) with an ancestral origin population from Pakistan

n this study, 15 autosomal STR loci were analysed using the AmpFlSTR® Identifiler PCR amplification kit in an immigrant population in the UK (British Pakistanis) and an ancestral origin population (Pakistanis) to elucidate whether an immigrant population can be distinguished from an ancestral origin population from Pakistan.

Application of anti-listerial bacteriocins: monitoring enterocin expression by multiplex relative reverse transcription–PCR

Listeriosis is a deadly food-borne disease, and its incidence may be limited through the biotechnological exploitation of a number of anti-listerial biocontrol agents. The most widely used of these agents are bacteriocins and the Class II enterocins are characterized by their activity against Listeria. Enterocins are primarily produced by enterococci, particularly Enterococcus faecium and many strains have been described, often encoding multiple bacteriocins. The use of these strains in food will require that they are free of virulence functions and that they exhibit a high level expression of anti-listerial enterocins in fermentation conditions. Multiplex relative RT (reverse transcription)-PCR is a technique that is useful in the discovery of advantageous expression characteristics among enterocin-producing strains. It allows the levels of individual enterocin gene expression to be monitored and determination of how expression is altered under different growth conditions.