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Latent Fingermarks and Microbiome: Time and Community Succession

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Technologies for Fingermark Age Estimations: A Step Forward

Abstract

Trace evidence is a type of physical evidence that can be transferred between two objects, helping to reconstruct the sequence of events of a crime. From a forensic perspective, the human skin is a key element for, and source of, microbial trace evidence due to the constant exposure and contact with surfaces and continuous interaction with the environment. The most studied group of microorganisms in microbial forensics is bacteria. Bacteria are extremely diverse in terms of morphology, physiology, and metabolism. They have evolved to use a wide range of strategies to obtain energy, being able to survive and thrive in many different environments. This great diversity and adaptability make bacteria ubiquitous, that is, they can be found in every environment possible on Earth, a remarkable characteristic that can be of great investigative value as trace evidence. Microorganisms colonize the skin immediately after birth and remain there even after death. In healthy conditions, they are mainly located in the superficial layers of the epidermis, gland tracts, and hair follicles. The skin microbiota consists of a group of organisms that are routinely found in the human skin and can reestablish themselves after a perturbance. The human skin core microbiota includes four main phyla: Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroides. Recent advances in molecular analysis, especially modern sequencing techniques, have considerably increased the quantity of data available for forensic purposes. This information is valuable not only to identify the representative microbial communities but also to better understand the dynamics occurring within each community. High-throughput sequencing and alpha and beta diversity analysis have been employed to achieve a deeper understanding of the human skin microbiome and its uniqueness among individuals. This represents a means of personal identification as well as the distinctiveness of the microbiome when transferred from the skin to another surface. Several studies have reported that skin bacteria of individuals can also be found on their mobile phones or be traced back to a keyboard in such a way that a person could be identified based on the bacterial residue left on specific keys. The enormous metabolic and physiological diversity of bacteria allow microbial assemblages to readily evolve to the changing environments. Thus, the composition of skin microbiota has a high potential to successfully complement current forensic techniques for the reconstruction of criminal events at the scene.

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Abbreviations

DNA:

Deoxyribonucleic acid

RNA:

Ribonucleic acid

NGS:

Next-generation sequencing

OTU:

Operational taxonomic unit

PCR:

Polymerase chain reaction

QIIME:

Quantitative insights into microbial ecology

RDP:

Ribosomal database project

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Forensic Sciences, Mercyhurst University, Erie, PA, USA

    Joe Adserias-Garriga

  2. Department of Biology, Campus Montilivi, University of Girona, Girona, Spain

    Jesús L. Garcia-Gil

Authors
  1. Joe Adserias-Garriga
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  2. Jesús L. Garcia-Gil
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Correspondence to Joe Adserias-Garriga .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Science Forensic Science Department, University of New Haven, West Haven, CT, USA

    Josep De Alcaraz-Fossoul

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Adserias-Garriga, J., Garcia-Gil, J.L. (2021). Latent Fingermarks and Microbiome: Time and Community Succession. In: De Alcaraz-Fossoul, J. (eds) Technologies for Fingermark Age Estimations: A Step Forward. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-69337-4_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-69337-4_11

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