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Postmortem interval assessment by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry analysis in murine cadavers
Federica Dell'Annunziata1, Francesca Martora1, Maria Elena Della Pepa1
1Microbiology Section, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Study of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Napoli, Italy.
Journal of Applied Microbiology
|July 12, 2021
Summary
Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry effectively identifies microbial communities in decomposing remains. This method shows promise for estimating postmortem interval (PMI) with rapid, reproducible results in forensic science.
Area of Science:
- Forensic microbiology
- Postmortem interval estimation
- Mass spectrometry applications
Background:
- Understanding microbial succession during decomposition is crucial for forensic investigations.
- The thanatomicrobiota and epinecrotic communities play a role in decomposition processes.
- Accurate postmortem interval (PMI) estimation is a persistent challenge in forensic science.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry for identifying microbial species in decomposing murine cadavers.
- To assess the potential of MALDI-TOF as an alternative method for characterizing thanatomicrobiota and epinecrotic communities.
- To explore the application of MALDI-TOF in developing a strategy for postmortem interval (PMI) estimation.
Main Methods:
- Microbiological swabs were collected from external anatomical sites and internal organs of 10 murine cadavers over 16 and 30 days.
- Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry was employed for microbial identification.
- Analysis focused on changes in microbial communities over time and their association with decomposition stages.
Main Results:
- Postmortem microbial communities in external cavities exhibited temporal changes and reduced diversity.
- Internal organs, initially sterile, became colonized by microbes between 3 and 10 days postmortem.
- The dominant bacterial phyla identified in the postmortem microbiota were Firmicutes and Proteobacteria.
Conclusions:
- MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry is a viable and promising tool for postmortem interval (PMI) estimation.
- The method offers advantages such as rapid sample handling, good reproducibility, and high throughput.
- This study highlights the utility of MALDI-TOF in forensic science for analyzing microbial changes during decomposition.