Trace Evidence Potential in Postmortem Skin Microbiomes: From Death Scene to Morgue |
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| Authors: | Se Jin Song PhD Nicholas Harrison MFS Rob Knight PhD David O Carter PhD Christopher B Happy MD |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, 92093 CA;2. Laboratory of Forensic Taphonomy, Forensic Sciences Unit, Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Chaminade University of Honolulu, 3140 Waialae Avenue, Honolulu, 96816 HI;3. Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, 92093 CA;4. Center for Microbiome Innovation, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, 92093‐0403 CA;5. Laboratory of Forensic Taphonomy, Forensic Sciences Unit, Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Chaminade University of Honolulu, 3140 Waialae Avenue, Honolulu, 96816 HICorresponding author: David O. Carter, Ph.D. E‐mail:;6. City and County of Honolulu Department of the Medical Examiner, 835 Iwilei Street, Honolulu, 96817 HI |
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| Abstract: | Microbes can be used effectively as trace evidence, at least in research settings. However, it is unknown whether skin microbiomes change prior to autopsy and, if so, whether these changes interfere with linking objects to decedents. The current study included microbiomes from 16 scenes of death in the City and County of Honolulu and tested whether objects at the scenes can be linked to individual decedents. Postmortem skin microbiomes were stable during repeated sampling up to 60 h postmortem and were similar to microbiomes of an antemortem population. Objects could be traced to decedents approximately 75% of the time, with smoking pipes and medical devices being especially accurate (100% match), house and car keys being poor (0%), and other objects like phones intermediate (~80%). These results show that microbes from objects at death scenes can be matched to individual decedents, opening up a new method of establishing associations and identifications. |
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| Keywords: | forensic science forensic pathology forensic microbiology medicolegal death investigation microbiome trace evidence identification |
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