Tripathi Pooja, Render Riya, Nidhi Sweta, Tripathi Vijay
Department of Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Jacob Institute of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, 211007, India.
Department of Forensic Sciences, National Forensic Sciences University, Ponda, Goa, 430401, India.
Forensic Sci Med Pathol. 2025 Mar;21(1):417-429. doi: 10.1007/s12024-024-00830-7. Epub 2024 Jun 15.
Microbial forensics is a new discipline of science that analyzes evidence related to biological crime through the uniqueness and abundance of microorganisms and their toxins. Microorganisms remain alive longer than any other trace of biological evidence, such as DNA, fingerprints, and fibers, because of the protective cell membrane or capsules. Microbiological research has opened up various possibilities for forensic investigations of microbial flora. Current molecular technologies, including DNA sequencing, whole-genome sequencing, metagenomics, DNA fingerprinting, and molecular phylogeny, provide valid results for forensic investigations. Recent advancements in genome sequencing technologies, genetic data generation, and bioinformatic tools have significantly improved microbial sampling methods and forensic analyses. In this review, we discuss the applications of microbial genomic tools and technologies in forensic investigations, including human identification, geolocation, and causes of death.
微生物法医学是一门新兴的科学学科，它通过微生物及其毒素的独特性和丰度来分析与生物犯罪相关的证据。由于具有保护性的细胞膜或荚膜，微生物比其他任何生物证据痕迹（如DNA、指纹和纤维）存活的时间更长。微生物学研究为微生物群落的法医调查开辟了各种可能性。当前的分子技术，包括DNA测序、全基因组测序、宏基因组学、DNA指纹识别和分子系统发育，为法医调查提供了有效的结果。基因组测序技术、遗传数据生成和生物信息工具的最新进展显著改进了微生物采样方法和法医分析。在本综述中，我们讨论了微生物基因组工具和技术在法医调查中的应用，包括身份鉴定、地理位置确定和死因判定。
