title: Microbes as forensic indicators.
abstract: The forensic potential of microorganisms is becoming increasingly apparent   as a consequence of advances in molecular sciences and genomics. This review discusses   instances in which microbes, and in particular bacteria, can impact upon forensic   investigations. There is increasing evidence that humans have an extremely diverse   'microbiome' that may prove useful in determining ethnicity, country of origin, and even   personal identity. The human microbiome differs between regions of the body and may   prove useful for determining the nature of stains such as those caused by saliva and   vaginal fluid: it may even be possible to link the stains to the person responsible for   them. Similarly, the composition of the microbiome present in a soil sample may prove a   useful indicator of geographic origin or as a means of linking people, animals, or objects   together or to a specific location. Microorganisms are important in the decay process   and also influence the presence and concentration of alcohol, drugs, and other chemicals   of forensic relevance. There is also a possibility that the entry of microorganisms into   the body during the agonal period may prove useful for the diagnosis of drowning. The   transmission of infectious diseases, and in particular sexually-transmitted diseases, can   provide evidence linking a victim and a suspect. Microorganisms that cause fatal   infections are not always identified at the time of death and may lead to the death being   considered 'suspicious'. If a fatal infection can be linked to a hospital or medical procedure   it can lead to prosecutions and therefore it is important to determine when and where   an infection was acquired. Similarly, naturally acquired infections need to be distinguished   from those that result from malicious transmission. Microorganisms can therefore provide   evidence in many different forensic scenarios but most of the work is still at the   experimental stage and there are therefore many opportunities for further research.
authors.affiliation: School of Natural Sciences and Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3 3AF, UK. a.gunn@ljmu.ac.uk
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Alan
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Sarah
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001105:Archaea / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology; D002423:Cause of Death; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000635:transmission; D005260:Female; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D064307:Microbiota; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology; D012988:Soil Microbiology
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents