COVID-19 an Kölner Schulen: Eine differenzierte Übersicht der Schulentscheidungen im Gesundheitsamt der Stadt Köln bis zum Ende des Schuljahres 2019/2020

Im Epidemiologischen Bulletin 42/2020 werden die Herausforderungen, der Umgang und die Erfahrungen des Gesundheitsamts Kölns zwischen März und Juli 2020 im Umgang mit Schulen während der COVID-19-Pandemie vorgestellt. Die Autoren sehen zum jetzigen Zeitpunkt im Bereich der Schulen die differenzierte Einzelfallbearbeitung als ein hinreichend sicheres und angemessenes Instrument an. Ob bei kompletter Öffnung der Schulen, im Falle ansteigender Fallzahlen nach Ferienende, die personelle Ausstattung der Gesundheitsämter dieses Vorgehen ermöglichen kann, ist aus Perspektive der Autoren fraglich. Sie plädieren aber für den bestmöglichen Erhalt des Schulbetriebs, um möglichst vielen Schüler*innen eine angemessene Förderung zu bieten und die Bildungsgerechtigkeit zu erhalten

mRNA profiling of mock casework samples: Results of a FoRNAP collaborative exercise

In recent years, forensic mRNA profiling has increasingly been used to identify the origin of human body fluids. By now, several laboratories have implemented mRNA profiling and also use it in criminal casework. In 2018 the FoRNAP (Forensic RNA Profiling) group was established among a number of these laboratories with the aim of sharing experiences, discussing optimization potential, identifying challenges and suggesting solutions with regards to mRNA profiling and casework. To compare mRNA profiling methods and results a collaborative exercise was organized within the FoRNAP group. Seven laboratories from four countries received 16 stains, comprising six pure body fluid / tissue stains and ten mock casework samples. The laboratories were asked to analyze the provided stains with their in-house method (PCR/CE or MPS) and markers of choice. Five laboratories used a DNA/RNA co-extraction strategy. Overall, up to 11 mRNA markers per body fluid were analyzed. We found that mRNA profiling using different extraction and analysis methods as well as different multiplexes can be applied to casework-like samples. In general, high input samples were typed with high accuracy by all laboratories, regardless of the method used. Irrespective of the analysis strategy, samples of low input or mixed stains were more challenging to analyze and interpret since, alike to DNA profiling, a higher number of markers dropped out and/or additional unexpected markers not consistent with the cell type in question were detected. It could be shown that a plethora of different but valid analysis and interpretation strategies exist and are successfully applied in the Forensic Genetics community. Nevertheless, efforts aiming at optimizing and harmonizing interpretation approaches in order to achieve a higher consistency between laboratories might be desirable in the future. The simultaneous extraction of DNA alongside RNA showed to be an effective approach to identify not only the body fluid present but also to identify the donor(s) of the stain. This allows investigators to gain valuable information about the origin of crime scene samples and the course of events in a crime case