Transferability of Human and Environmental Microbiome on Clothes as a Tool for Forensic Investigations

Noemi Procopio; Giulia Sguazzi; Emma V Eriksson; Nengi Ogbanga; Frazer C McKell; Eleanor P Newton; Paola A Magni; Andrea Bonicelli; Sarah Gino

doi:10.3390/genes15030375

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Transferability of Human and Environmental Microbiome on Clothes as a Tool for Forensic Investigations

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Transferability of Human and Environmental Microbiome on Clothes as a Tool for Forensic Investigations

Noemi Procopio, Giulia Sguazzi, Emma V Eriksson, Nengi Ogbanga, Frazer C McKell, Eleanor P Newton, Paola A Magni, Andrea Bonicelli and Sarah Gino

Genes, Vol.15(3), 375

2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/genes15030375

PMID: 38540435

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Abstract

Clothing

DNA, Ribosomal

Humans

Microbiota - genetics

Skin

Considering the growing importance of microbiome analyses in forensics for identifying individuals, this study explores the transfer of the skin microbiome onto clothing, its persistence on fabrics over time, and its transferability from the environment and between different garments. Furthermore, this project compares three specific QIAGEN microbiome extraction kits to test their extraction efficiency on fabric samples. Additionally, this study aims to check if these extracts contain human DNA, providing a chance to obtain more information from the same evidence for personal identification. The results obtained show: (1) variations in the skin microbiome between the volunteers, potentially due to their different sex; (2) differences in microbial composition between worn and unworn clothing; (3) the influence of the environment on the microbial signature of unworn clothing; (4) the potential use of certain phyla as biomarkers to differentiate between worn and unworn garments, even over extended periods; (5) a tendency towards extraction biases in the QIAampMP DNA microbiome kit among the three tested ones; and (6) none of the extraction kits allow for the typing of human genetic profiles suitable for comparison. In conclusion, our study offers supplementary insights into the potential utility of time-transferred microbiome analysis on garments for forensic applications.

Details

Title: Transferability of Human and Environmental Microbiome on Clothes as a Tool for Forensic Investigations
Authors/Creators: Noemi Procopio - University of Lancashire
Giulia Sguazzi - Università degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale “Amedeo Avogadro”
Emma V Eriksson - Uppsala University
Nengi Ogbanga - Northumbria University
Frazer C McKell - Murdoch University
Eleanor P Newton - School of Medical, Molecular & Forensic Sciences, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia
Paola A Magni - School of Medical, Molecular & Forensic Sciences, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia
Andrea Bonicelli - University of Lancashire
Sarah Gino - Università degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale “Amedeo Avogadro”
Publication Details: Genes, Vol.15(3), 375
Publisher: MDPI
Grant note: MR/S032878/1 / UK Research and Innovation
Identifiers: 991005651568307891
Murdoch Affiliation: School of Medical, Molecular and Forensic Sciences
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Citation topics: 1 Clinical & Life Sciences; 1.120 Inflammatory Bowel Diseases & Infections; 1.120.384 Gut Microbiota
Web Of Science research areas: Genetics & Heredity
ESI research areas: Molecular Biology & Genetics