Microbiome Data Accurately Predicts the Postmortem Interval Using Random Forest Regression Models

Genes
Aeriel BelkJessica L Metcalf

Abstract

Death investigations often include an effort to establish the postmortem interval (PMI) in cases in which the time of death is uncertain. The postmortem interval can lead to the identification of the deceased and the validation of witness statements and suspect alibis. Recent research has demonstrated that microbes provide an accurate clock that starts at death and relies on ecological change in the microbial communities that normally inhabit a body and its surrounding environment. Here, we explore how to build the most robust Random Forest regression models for prediction of PMI by testing models built on different sample types (gravesoil, skin of the torso, skin of the head), gene markers (16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA), 18S rRNA, internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS)), and taxonomic levels (sequence variants, species, genus, etc.). We also tested whether particular suites of indicator microbes were informative across different datasets. Generally, results indicate that the most accurate models for predicting PMI were built using gravesoil and skin data using the 16S rRNA genetic marker at the taxonomic level of phyla. Additionally, several phyla consistently contributed highly to model accuracy and may be candidate indicators ...Continue Reading

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Citations

Nov 9, 2018·Journal of Forensic Sciences·Whitney A KodamaChristopher B Happy
Jul 9, 2020·PloS One·Alexandra L EmmonsJennifer M DeBruyn
Apr 21, 2020·Journal of Alzheimer's Disease : JAD·Susan WestfallGiulio Maria Pasinetti
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Jan 2, 2021·Forensic Science International : Synergy·John M Butler, Sheila Willis
Feb 2, 2021·Frontiers in Microbiology·Jake M RobinsonEran Elhaik
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Aug 17, 2019·Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine·Emily N JunkinsDavid O Carter
Nov 7, 2020·Forensic Science International. Genetics·J M Young, A Linacre

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Software Mentioned

R
Calour
scikit
ggplot2
Greengenes
phyla
matplotlib
QIIME
learn
Random

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