Examination of the temporal variation of peptide content in decomposition fluid under controlled conditions using pigs as human substitutes

A-N Nolan; R.J. Mead; G. Maker; S. Bringans; B. Chapman; S.J. Speers

doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2019.02.048

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Examination of the temporal variation of peptide content in decomposition fluid under controlled conditions using pigs as human substitutes

Journal article

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Examination of the temporal variation of peptide content in decomposition fluid under controlled conditions using pigs as human substitutes

A-N Nolan, R.J. Mead, G. Maker, S. Bringans, B. Chapman and S.J. Speers

Forensic Science International, Vol.298, pp.161-168

2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2019.02.048

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Abstract

We report the preliminary observations of the peptide content of decomposition fluid produced under controlled laboratory conditions and in the absence of a soil matrix. Four domestic pig (Sus scrofa domesticus) cadavers were used to model human decomposition over a four-week trial period; physical characteristics were recorded and the peptide components of decomposition fluid was analysed using high performance liquid chromatography-time of flight mass spectrometry. Preliminary data analysis indicated that a range of peptides were consistently detected across the course of the trial period and 27 of these were common to all four cadavers; 22 originating from haemoglobin. The peptides associated with haemoglobin subunit alpha and beta displayed a breakdown pattern that remained consistent for all cadavers for the duration of the trial. Though identification of peptides during decomposition has potential for estimating the time since death, quantification of selected peptides is likely to be essential to identify time-dependent trends.

Details

Title: Examination of the temporal variation of peptide content in decomposition fluid under controlled conditions using pigs as human substitutes
Authors/Creators: A-N Nolan (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
R.J. Mead (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
G. Maker (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
S. Bringans (Author/Creator) - Broadway
B. Chapman (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
S.J. Speers (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
Publication Details: Forensic Science International, Vol.298, pp.161-168
Publisher: Elsevier
Identifiers: 991005544750607891
Murdoch Affiliation: School of Veterinary and Life Sciences
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Citation topics: 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology; 3.32 Entomology; 3.32.1638 Forensic Entomology
Web Of Science research areas: Medicine, Legal
ESI research areas: Clinical Medicine