Profiling microbiome signatures on mobile phones for forensic insights

The use of mobile phones is increasingly widespread in daily life. Microorganisms present on phone surfaces can act as trace bacterial evidence at crime scenes, with potential applications in forensic sciences. In this study, we aimed to assess the presence, diversity, and forensic relevance of bacterial microbiomes on mobile phones. Swab samples were collected from the personal mobile phones of 50 individuals, with both the front and back surfaces sampled. All these samples (n = 100) were then cultured using conventional microbiological methods, followed by standard phenotypic tests and MALDI-TOF MS for microbial identification. A total of 161 colonies corresponding to 18 microbial species were identified on mobile phone surfaces, including both common skin flora and less common organisms. The presence of fungal species and gram-negative bacteria, although in lower abundance, highlights the complexity of microbial communities on these devices. Variations in bacterial diversity were influenced by handwashing frequency, phone cleaning habits, use of protective accessories, and gender, demonstrating that microbial signatures are shaped by a combination of behavioral and environmental factors. These findings provide sufficient depth to characterize microbiota on mobile phones and illustrate their potential as distinctive microbial patterns for forensic analysis. Moreover, significant differences were observed in relation to socio-demographic characteristics, handwashing habits, and use of protective accessories (p < 0.05). These results indicate that bacterial communities on mobile phones vary between individuals and that distinctive microbial patterns may serve as supportive forensic indicators.