Impact of the Human Microbiome in Forensic Sciences: a Systematic Review

ABSTRACT Numerous studies relate differences in microbial communities to human health and disease; however, little is known about microbial changes that occur postmortem or the possible applications of microbiome analysis in the field of forensic science. The aim of this review was to study the microbiome and its applications in forensic sciences and to determine the main lines of investigation that are emerging, as well as its possible contributions to the forensic field. A systematic review of the human microbiome in relation to forensic science was carried out by following PRISMA guidelines. This study sheds light on the role of microbiome research in the postmortem interval during the process of decomposition, identifying death caused by drowning or sudden death, locating the geographical location of death, establishing a connection between the human microbiome and personal items, sexual contact, and the identification of individuals. Actinomycetaceae, Bacteroidaceae, Alcaligenaceae, and Bacilli play an important role in determining the postmortem interval. Aeromonas can be used to determine the cause of death, and Corynebacterium or Helicobacter pylori can be used to ascertain personal identity or geographical location. Several studies point to a promising future for microbiome analysis in the different fields of forensic science, opening up an important new area of research.

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Systematic review and meta-regression analysis of technical efficiency in dairy farms

International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management ◽

10.1108/ijppm-02-2015-0027 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 65 (3) ◽

pp. 279-301 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Taciana Mareth ◽

Antonio Marcio Tavares Thomé ◽

Fernando Luiz Cyrino Oliveira ◽

Luiz Felipe Scavarda

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Regression Analysis ◽

Technical Efficiency ◽

Geographical Location ◽

Dairy Farms ◽

Two Dimensions ◽

Farm Size ◽

Content Type ◽

Meta Regression ◽

Meta Regression Analysis

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to complement and extend previous literature reviews on Technical Efficiency (TE) in dairy farms, analysing the effects of different methodologies and study-specific characteristics on Mean TE (MTE). Design/methodology/approach – The researchers independently conducted a systematic review of more than 400 abstracts and 85 full-text papers. Original keywords were applied to seven key electronic databases. Results from a meta-regression analysis of 85 published papers totalling 443 TE distributions in dairy farms worldwide are discussed. Findings – The variation in the MTE indexes reported in the literature can be explained by the methodology of estimations (method of estimation, functional form of frontier models, model dimensionality), the farms geographical location and farm size. Additionally, the results suggest that, given the state of technology prevailing in each country at the time that the studies on TE were conducted, dairy farmers in the sample could increase milk output by 20.9 per cent (level of inefficiency), on average, if they produce on their frontiers. Originality/value – This study makes two important contributions: first, it updates and compares previous works on frontier estimation of TE in dairy farms; and second, it adds two dimensions of dairy farms, size (herd and land area) and economic development, to the known differentials of TE measurement.

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The human microbiome research in Africa – A systematic review

International Journal of Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1016/j.ijid.2016.02.349 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 45 ◽

pp. 143 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

M.R. Ngwarai ◽

L.E. Ah Tow ◽

M.P. Nicol ◽

M. Kaba

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Human Microbiome ◽

Microbiome Research

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Harnessing the potential of the environmental microbiome in forensic science

Issues of Forensic Science ◽

10.34836/pk.2021.312.3 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 61-67

Author(s):

Agata Jagiełło ◽

◽

Anna Woźniak ◽

Błażej Szczerba ◽

Rafał Płoski ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Forensic Science ◽

Dna Analysis ◽

Genetic Test ◽

Massively Parallel Sequencing ◽

Geographical Location ◽

Soil Samples ◽

Massively Parallel ◽

Soil Microbiome ◽

Microbiome Analysis ◽

Dna Profiles

A scientific consortium led by the Central Forensic Laboratory of the Police has undertaken to develop a method for DNA analysis of the soil microbiome to be used in forensic investigations. The aim of the project entitled Soil Microbiome Analysis Forensic Tool – SMAFT (http://smaft.eu/), financed by the National Center for Research and Development (DOB-BIO10/03/01/2019), is to develop a new tool that enables the association of a trace in the form of a soil sample with a specific geographical location. The first part of the paper introduces the concept of the microbiome and presents the possibilities of using microbiome DNA analysis in forensic science. In the second part, the stages of the SMAFT project are described in detail, beginning from the collection of soil samples from different sites in Poland across all seasons and isolation of microbiome DNA through massively parallel sequencing (MPS) technology-based analysis of isolates and the development of a genetic test containing a set of metagenomic markers allowing for effective individualization of soil samples, up to the creation of an IT system enabling analysis and interpretation of the obtained results, which includes a database of soil microbiome DNA profiles from various locations in Poland.

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Challenges in Human Skin Microbial Profiling for Forensic Science: A Review

Genes ◽

10.3390/genes11091015 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (9) ◽

pp. 1015 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Ana Neckovic ◽

Roland A. H. van Oorschot ◽

Bianca Szkuta ◽

Annalisa Durdle

Keyword(s):

Forensic Science ◽

Human Skin ◽

Human Microbiome ◽

Human Identification ◽

Future Directions ◽

New Approach ◽

Microbial Profiling ◽

Microbiome Research ◽

Potential Applications ◽

Microbial Samples

The human microbiome is comprised of the microbes that live on and within an individual, as well as immediately surrounding them. Microbial profiling may have forensic utility in the identification or association of individuals with criminal activities, using microbial signatures derived from a personal microbiome. This review highlights some important aspects of recent studies, many of which have revealed issues involving the effect of contamination of microbial samples from both technical and environmental sources and their impacts on microbiome research and the potential forensic applications of microbial profiling. It is imperative that these challenges be discussed and evaluated within a forensic context to better understand the future directions and potential applications of microbial profiling for human identification. It is necessary that the limitations identified be resolved prior to the adoption of microbial profiling, or, at a minimum, acknowledged by those applying this new approach.

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Is There a Role for the Microbiome and Sudden Death? A Systematic Review

Life ◽

10.3390/life11121345 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (12) ◽

pp. 1345

Author(s):

Aurelia Collados-Ros ◽

María D. Pérez-Cárceles ◽

Isabel Legaz

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Sudden Death ◽

Forensic Science ◽

Systematic Evaluation ◽

Forensic Sciences ◽

Cardiac Events ◽

Unexpected Death ◽

Death Scene ◽

One Year

Background. Sudden unexpected death (SUD) is one of the most important and worthy investigation case profiles in emergency medicine and forensic pathology. Sudden unexpected deaths in adults (SUDA) are frequently caused by cardiac events, while infections usually cause those in infants younger than one year (SUDI), and to a lesser extent, in children older than one year (SUDC). However, in some instances of children under the age of one dying (SIDS), a cause is not discovered despite a thorough investigation that includes a review of clinical history, examination of the death scene, and a complete autopsy. Several studies demonstrate that the microbiome influences host immunity, alters susceptibility to viral respiratory infections, and has a vital role in various health, disease, and death outcomes. The main objective of this systematic review was to compile and offer a complete vision of the main lines of research on microbiome and sudden death that have emerged in recent years and their relationship with forensic sciences, as well as the possible contributions or limitations in the field of forensic sciences. Methods. Following PRISMA principles, a systematic evaluation of the microbiome and sudden death in forensic science was conducted. In this review, our study classified the sudden deaths as SUDA, SUDI, and SIDS. Results. The role of microbiome research in sudden death is discussed in this review. Various studies have linked the detection of different bacteria or viruses as a probable cause of sudden death. Bacteria analysed differ between studies that used autopsy specimens from deaths classified as SUDA, SUDI, and SIDS, or, except in the case of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, which have been analysed in both SUDI and SIDS autopsies. In the case of viruses, only Cytomegalovirus has been analysed in both SIDS and SUDI cases. However, all the viruses studied are respiratory viruses found in samples of nasopharyngeal or lung fluid. Conclusions. Although the application of the microbiome in sudden death and other fields of forensic science is still in its early stages, a role of the microbiome in sudden deaths cannot be ruled out, but we cannot conclude that it is a significant factor either.

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Does total antioxidant capacity affect the features of metabolic syndrome? A systematic review

Nutrition & Food Science ◽

10.1108/nfs-01-2020-0031 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Author(s):

Sama Rasaee ◽

Mohammad Alizadeh ◽

Sorayya Kheirouri ◽

Hadi Abdollahzad

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Metabolic Syndrome ◽

Antioxidant Capacity ◽

Total Antioxidant Capacity ◽

Geographical Location ◽

Assessment Tools ◽

Case Control Studies ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Content Type ◽

Total Antioxidant

Purpose There is some evidence that suggest a higher dietary total antioxidant capacity (DTAC) is associated with a lower risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS). Considering the conflicting results in this field, this paper aims to provide a comprehensive summary of studies on the association of DTAC and components of MetS. Design/methodology/approach A systematic review of articles indexed in PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar, published from inception to September 2018, with defined keywords, was done. Duplicate or irrelevant reports were screened out and data were extracted through critical analysis. Finally, among the 353 articles, 19 articles met the inclusion criteria. Findings The included cohort studies revealed that higher DTAC was associated with reduced risk of MetS. Also, the association between DTAC and mortality risk of MetS was insignificant in these studies. The case–control studies showed high DTAC is inversely associated with MetS, its components and complications. The randomized controlled trials found that changes in DTAC were negatively correlated with oxidized low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and there was a positive association between DTAC and subjects’ weight and body mass index. Finally, results from the cross-sectional studies were inconsistence in this regard. Originality/value The assessed relationship between MetS or its components with DTAC is inconsistent in the included studies. Different sample size, dietary assessment tools, DTAC index values and geographical location may justify the observed inconsistencies. It seems that further studies are needed to reveal more confident and reliable findings.

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Inter-individual variation shapes the human microbiome

Behavioral and Brain Sciences ◽

10.1017/s0140525x1800287x ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 42 ◽

Author(s):

Emily F. Wissel ◽

Leigh K. Smith

Keyword(s):

Individual Differences ◽

Individual Variation ◽

Human Microbiome ◽

Individual Variability ◽

Microbiota Composition ◽

Target Article ◽

Microbiome Research

Abstract The target article suggests inter-individual variability is a weakness of microbiota-gut-brain (MGB) research, but we discuss why it is actually a strength. We comment on how accounting for individual differences can help researchers systematically understand the observed variance in microbiota composition, interpret null findings, and potentially improve the efficacy of therapeutic treatments in future clinical microbiome research.

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Forensic science evidence: Naive estimates of false positive error rates and reliability

10.31234/osf.io/anxur ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Kristy Martire ◽

Agnes Bali ◽

Kaye Ballantyne ◽

Gary Edmond ◽

Richard Kemp ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Forensic Science ◽

False Positive ◽

Error Rates ◽

Forensic Sciences ◽

Positive Error ◽

False Positive Error ◽

Reliability Estimates ◽

Positive Report ◽

Science Evidence ◽

Science Disciplines

We do not know how often false positive reports are made in a range of forensic science disciplines. In the absence of this information it is important to understand the naive beliefs held by potential jurors about forensic science evidence reliability. It is these beliefs that will shape evaluations at trial. This descriptive study adds to our knowledge about naive beliefs by: 1) measuring jury-eligible (lay) perceptions of reliability for the largest range of forensic science disciplines to date, over three waves of data collection between 2011 and 2016 (n = 674); 2) calibrating reliability ratings with false positive report estimates; and 3) comparing lay reliability estimates with those of an opportunity sample of forensic practitioners (n = 53). Overall the data suggest that both jury-eligible participants and practitioners consider forensic evidence highly reliable. When compared to best or plausible estimates of reliability and error in the forensic sciences these views appear to overestimate reliability and underestimate the frequency of false positive errors. This result highlights the importance of collecting and disseminating empirically derived estimates of false positive error rates to ensure that practitioners and potential jurors have a realistic impression of the value of forensic science evidence.

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Prevalence and Impact of Atrial Fibrillation in Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm10112490 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (11) ◽

pp. 2490

Author(s):

Giulio Francesco Romiti ◽

Bernadette Corica ◽

Gregory Y. H. Lip ◽

Marco Proietti

Keyword(s):

Atrial Fibrillation ◽

Systematic Review ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Geographical Location ◽

Treatment Strategies ◽

Cardiovascular Complications ◽

Risk Of Death ◽

All Cause Mortality ◽

High Degree ◽

Degree Of Heterogeneity

Background: In patients with COVID-19, cardiovascular complications are common and associated with poor prognosis. Among these, an association between atrial fibrillation (AF) and COVID-19 has been described; however, the extent of this relationship is unclear. The aim of this study is to investigate the epidemiology of AF in COVID-19 patients and its impact on all-cause mortality. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed and reported according to PRISMA guidelines, and a protocol for this study was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42021227950). PubMed and EMBASE were systematically searched for relevant studies. A random-effects model was used to estimate pooled odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: Overall, 31 studies were included in the analysis, with a total number of 187,716 COVID-19 patients. The prevalence of AF was found to be as high as 8% of patients with COVID-19 (95% CI: 6.3–10.2%, 95% prediction intervals (PI): 2.0–27.1%), with a high degree of heterogeneity between studies; a multiple meta-regression model including geographical location, age, hypertension, and diabetes showed that these factors accounted for more than a third of the heterogeneity. AF COVID-19 patients were less likely to be female but more likely older, hypertensive, and with a critical status than those without AF. Patients with AF showed a significant increase in the risk of all-cause mortality (OR: 3.97, 95% CI: 2.76–5.71), with a high degree of heterogeneity. A sensitivity analysis focusing on new-onset AF showed the consistency of these results. Conclusions: Among COVID-19 patients, AF is found in 8% of patients. AF COVID-19 patients are older, more hypertensive, and more likely to have a critical status. In COVID-19 patients, AF is associated with a 4-fold higher risk of death. Further studies are needed to define the best treatment strategies to improve the prognosis of AF COVID-19 patients.

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The experiences of work-life balance, stress, and coping lifestyles of female professionals: insights from a developing country

Employee Relations ◽

10.1108/er-01-2019-0089 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 42 (4) ◽

pp. 999-1015

Author(s):

Babatunde Akanji ◽

Chima Mordi ◽

Hakeem Adeniyi Ajonbadi

Keyword(s):

Health Sector ◽

Geographical Location ◽

Stress And Coping ◽

Work Life ◽

Work Life Balance ◽

Medical Doctors ◽

Life Balance ◽

Content Type ◽

Work Family ◽

And Coping

PurposeGiven the limiting conditions of the gender roles confronting professional working women and drawing on spillover theory, the purpose of this paper is to explore the experiences of work-life balance with an emphasis on the causes of the imbalances, perceived stress, and coping techniques experienced by female medical doctors in an African context – Nigeria, a geographical location that is considered under-researched.Design/methodology/approachThe qualitative data is based on one-to-one in-depth interviews with 52 Nigerian female medical doctors.FindingsBased on the findings of the thematic analysis, it is clear that time squeeze, as a well-known factor in the medical profession, exacerbates negative work-home interference. However, other themes, such as patriarchal proclivities and task-pay disparity, that affect female doctors but are rarely considered in studies on work-life balance also emerged as sources of stress and work-family conflicts, leaving these doctors to devise individual coping methods as mitigating strategies.Research limitations/implicationsThe study relies on a limited qualitative sample size, which makes the generalisation of findings difficult. However, the study contributes to the limited literature on the implications of stress and work-family incompatibilities facing women in a society that is not particularly egalitarian, with an extremely pronounced culture of masculine hegemony that is contrary to western cultures. The article unveils the socio-cultural difficulties of the work-life demands facing women specific to the Nigerian society and experienced with a different level of intensity.Originality/valueThe majority of the research on work-life balance has been undertaken in western countries and has focused on various professional groups and organisations, including the health sector. Nevertheless, work-life balance is a novel concept within the Nigerian work environment, where female medical doctors, as a professional group, are rarely studied. The article also provides valuable insights into the macro-contextual features influencing the work-life balance of Nigerian professional women.

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