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Biology of Microbial Communities - Interview
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Metabarcoding to investigate changes in soil microbial communities within forensic burial contexts.

Noemi Procopio1, Stefano Ghignone2, Anna Williams3

  • 1Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester, M1 7DN, UK.

Forensic Science International. Genetics
|December 30, 2018
PubMed
Summary

Estimating the time since death (post-mortem interval) using soil microbes is challenging. This study tracked bacterial changes in buried pig carcasses, finding specific microbial patterns linked to decomposition stages for improved forensic analysis.

Keywords:
16S rRNADecompositionMetabarcodingPost-mortem intervalTaphonomy

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Area of Science:

  • Forensic Science
  • Microbiology
  • Ecology

Background:

  • Accurate post-mortem interval (PMI) estimation is crucial in forensic science, but current methods face limitations, especially in prolonged decomposition.
  • Soil microbial communities show promise for PMI estimation in exposed remains, yet their role in buried carcasses requires further investigation.
  • Understanding bacterial succession in buried carcasses is essential for developing reliable PMI estimation techniques.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the bacterial succession in soil associated with decomposing pig carcasses over a six-month period.
  • To identify microbial taxa and trends correlating with specific post-mortem intervals (PMI) in buried remains.
  • To assess the potential of metabarcoding for estimating PMI in buried carcasses and its application in forensic investigations.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a metabarcoding approach targeting the bacterial 16S rRNA V4 region.
  • Analyzed soil microbial communities from four pig carcasses at various post-mortem intervals (1-6 months).
  • Examined changes in microbial taxa abundance, richness, and community structure throughout the decomposition process.

Main Results:

  • Identified specific trends in bacterial taxa, including increases in Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes, and a decrease in Acidobacteria with advancing PMI.
  • Observed a general reduction in taxonomic richness from two months post-mortem onwards.
  • Detected mammal-derived taxa, such as Bacteroides spp., persisting in the soil up to six months post-mortem.

Conclusions:

  • The study provides a baseline for identifying microbial biomarkers associated with specific post-mortem intervals in buried carcasses.
  • Metabarcoding of soil microbial communities demonstrates significant potential for PMI estimation, particularly for skeletonized remains and clandestine grave investigations.
  • Findings suggest that soil microbial succession patterns are comparable between buried and exposed carcasses, supporting the broader applicability of this forensic method.