Forensic Microbiology

 

A recent publication explores the relevance of the use of microbiology in forensic contexts.

 

         Despite its many applications, forensic microbiology is still not a well explored field, with forensic examiners preferring to use biological evidences such as hair, blood and saliva. Nevertheless, microbe and microbiome analysis can have diverse applications in forensic sciences.

The field of forensic microbiology started to be recognized from the need to support investigators in biocrime and bioterrorism, but it has now expanded to include the human microbiome identification (microbial DNA amplified by PCR from bite marks and teeth can offer supporting data in the identification of suspects and it has been proposed that microbial evidences left by individuals on physical surfaces can carry individual microbial signature), thanatomicrobiome (microbiome associated with the host after death), Post-Mortem Interval (PMI) estimation, and geolocation (through soil bacterial profile).

Source: Hachem, M., Ahmad, H., Pilankar, I., Abdelrahim, I., ALFalasi, F., & Asif, Z. Advances in Human Microbiome as an Emerging Tool in Forensics.