Seasonal variation of postmortem microbial communities

Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology
David O CarterRob Knight

Abstract

Body-associated microbes were recently shown to change significantly during decomposition, undergoing an ecological succession in experimental conditions using rodent and swine models. We investigated microbial succession in soils associated with swine carcasses under experimental field conditions in summer and winter. We demonstrate that these postmortem microbial communities change in a specific, reproducible fashion, and that soil microbes represent a significant component of the postmortem microbial community, contrary to widespread belief in forensic science. However, the effects of decomposition on soil microbial communities were different in summer and winter. We suggest that the microbial ecological succession will be useful in medicolegal death investigation; however, observations in winter might not be applicable to summer, which indicates a need for a greater understanding of the seasonality of decomposition.

References

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Apr 13, 2010·Nature Methods·J Gregory CaporasoRob Knight
Apr 20, 2010·Forensic Science International : Synergy·David O CarterMark Tibbett
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Jun 8, 2014·Applied and Environmental Microbiology·Christian L LauberRob Knight

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Citations

Jan 11, 2016·Microbial Ecology·Sheree J FinleyGulnaz T Javan
Mar 5, 2016·Frontiers in Microbiology·Gulnaz T JavanJennifer G Mulle
Sep 1, 2015·Forensic Science International : Synergy·Monica ChimutsaT Komang Ralebitso-Senior
Dec 15, 2015·Science & Justice : Journal of the Forensic Science Society·Lauren P ChunDavid O Carter
Jun 13, 2016·Forensic Science International : Synergy·Esther R CrooksKate M Barnes
Jul 13, 2016·Current Biology : CB·Jessica L MetcalfRob Knight
Nov 9, 2018·Journal of Forensic Sciences·Whitney A KodamaChristopher B Happy
Jun 7, 2019·Journal of Forensic Sciences·Zachary M BurchamHeather R Jordan
Sep 4, 2019·Journal of Forensic Sciences·Terezie CernosekKatelynn A Perrault
Oct 2, 2020·Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology·Hirak Ranjan Dash, Surajit Das
Jun 6, 2018·The ISME Journal·David PreiswerkDieter Ebert
Feb 2, 2021·Frontiers in Microbiology·Jake M RobinsonEran Elhaik
Dec 27, 2021·Journal of Applied Microbiology·Mateusz SperudaRafał Ogórek

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