Forensic microbiology and bite marks: a systematic review.

Area of Science:

• Forensic microbiology
• Oral microbiome analysis

Background:

• Bite mark analysis is primarily morphology-based, with limited exploration of its microbiological forensic applications.
• The potential of oral microbiota as complementary forensic evidence remains largely uninvestigated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review existing literature on the forensic utility of oral microbiota in bite mark analysis.
• To determine if microbial analysis can serve as an adjunct to traditional forensic methods for bite mark identification.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was conducted on the PubMed database.
• Predefined data fields and keywords were used to select relevant articles.
• Six studies were included in the final analysis.

Main Results:

• The Streptococcus genus was identified as a significant factor in bite mark microbiology for forensic purposes.
• Genomic analysis of Streptococcus may assist in linking bite marks to individuals.
• Current findings suggest potential but require further validation.

Conclusions:

• Oral microbiota analysis, particularly of the Streptococcus genus, shows potential as a complementary forensic tool in bite mark analysis.
• Significant research is required to optimize and standardize methodologies.
• Factors such as bacterial genotype frequency and microbiome stability on skin must be addressed before practical application.