Ecological aspects of postmortem microbiome and possibility of their use in forensic practice

Sidorova N.A.; Tolmachev I.A.; Lavrukova O.S.

doi:https://doi.org/10.17116/sudmed20226501141

Sidorova N.A.

Petrozavodsk State University

Tolmachev I.A.

Military Medical Academy named after S.M. Kirov of Ministry of Defense of Russia

SPIN RSCI: 5794-9030
ORCID: 0000-0002-5893-520X

Lavrukova O.S.

Petrozavodsk State University

ORCID: 0000-0003-0620-9406

Ecological aspects of postmortem microbiome and possibility of their use in forensic practice

Authors:

Sidorova N.A., Tolmachev I.A., Lavrukova O.S.

More about the authors

Journal: Forensic Medical Expertise. 2022;65(1): 41‑45

DOI: 10.17116/sudmed20226501141

Read: 1562 times

Download PDF (RU)

Contact the author

Table of contents

To cite this article:

Sidorova NA, Tolmachev IA, Lavrukova OS. Ecological aspects of postmortem microbiome and possibility of their use in forensic practice. Forensic Medical Expertise. 2022;65(1):41‑45. (In Russ.)
https://doi.org/10.17116/sudmed20226501141

Подписка 2026 Судебно-медицинская экспертиза (Forensic Medical Expertise)

Использование инфографики авторами научных работ

Close metadata

Recommended articles:

Forensic medical expertise in the cases of sexual crimes: dynamics of indicators and regional features. Forensic Medical Expertise. 2025;(4):5-10

On the possibility of establishing postmortem interval of human by examining the electrical conductivity of the knee joints’ synovial fluid. Forensic Medical Expertise. 2025;(4):21-28

Mathematical programming in assessment of the postmortem interval under conditions of linearly varying external temperature. Forensic Medical Expertise. 2025;(4):34-39

On the forensic significance of cadaveric spots color in death from general hypothermia. Forensic Medical Expertise. 2025;(5):32-38

Accountance of instrumental error in measuring corpse’s temperature when determining postmortem interval (a case from practice). Forensic Medical Expertise. 2025;(5):53-57

Improvement of the organization of forensic medical expertise in emergencies through digital technologies. Forensic Medical Expertise. 2025;(6):5-9

The role of primary forensic data in the context of statistical reporting on suicidal mortality. Forensic Medical Expertise. 2025;(6):15-19

The study of the meconial microbiota for the purposes of forensic science and practice. Forensic Medical Expertise. 2025;(6):47-51

The relevance of changing the algorithm of commission forensic examinations in aesthetic plastic surgery. Forensic Medical Expertise. 2026;(1):5-10

Microscopic assessment of cerebral edema in fatal traumatic brain injury during the first hour of the post-traumatic period. Forensic Medical Expertise. 2026;(1):26-29

Abstract:

Through experimental reproduction of the decomposition process using the cadaver of rabbit Oryctolagus sp., the dynamics of cadaver microflora was studied; the dominant bacterial taxa were isolated in pure culture and identified; their ecological and trophic profiles and biodiversity were described based on the values of Simpson and Menchinic ecological indices. The dependence of cadaver rotting and skeletonization rate on the taxonomic profile of microorganisms, decomposition period, and abiotic environmental factors (temperature, acidity, soil moisture) was demonstrated. The data obtained contribute to justifying the use of microbiological methods in forensic practice. To establish objective causality patterns of microbial transformation of organic matter in nature, further targeted study of ecological patterns of cadaveric microflora is necessary.

Keywords:

time of death

forensic examination

forensic microbiology

postmortem interval

decomposition

biodiversity

trophic groups of microorganisms

Authors:

Sidorova N.A.

Petrozavodsk State University

Tolmachev I.A.

Military Medical Academy named after S.M. Kirov of Ministry of Defense of Russia

SPIN RSCI: 5794-9030
ORCID: 0000-0002-5893-520X

Lavrukova O.S.

Petrozavodsk State University

ORCID: 0000-0003-0620-9406

Received:

16.03.2021

Accepted:

01.04.2021

Close metadata

References:

Stoma IO, Karpov IA. Mikrobiom cheloveka. Minsk: Doktor Dizain; 2018. (In Russ.).
Fierer N, Lauber CL, Zhou N, McDonald D, Costello EK, Knight R. Forensic identification using skin bacterial communities. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 2010;107(14):6477-6481. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1000162107
Lehman DC. Forensic Microbiology. Clinical Microbiology Newsletter. 2014;36(7):49-54. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinmicnews.2014.03.001
Felsmann MZ, Szarek J, Felsmann M, Babinska I. Factors affecting temporary cavity generation during gunshot wound formation in animals — new aspects in the light of ﬂow mechanics: a review. Veterinarni meditsina. 2012;57(11):569-574. https://doi.org/10.17221/6463-vetmed
Kasper J, Mumm R, Ruther J. The composition of carcass volatile profiles in relation to storage time and climate conditions. Forensic Science International. 2012;223(1-3):64-71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2012.08.001
Can I, Javan GT, Pozhitkov AE, Noble PA. Distinctive thanatomicrobiome signatures found in the blood and internal organs of humans. J Microbiol Methods. 2014;106:1-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mimet.2014.07.026
Travenko EN, Zhuk NP. Assessment of activity of a catalase of bacteria as one of possible criteria for establishment of prescription of death. Problemy sudebnoy meditsiny, ekspertizy i prava. 2005;2:95-97. (In Russ.).
Sidorova NA, Popov VL, Lavrukova OS, Prikhod’ko AN, Lyabzina SN, Tikhomirova EI. The specific features of corpse putrification under the influence of necrobiome enzymatic systems. Sudebno-meditsinskaya ekspertiza. 2017;5:18-22. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.17116/sudmed201760518-22
Adserias-Garriga J, Quijada NM, Hernandez M, Rodriguez D, Lazaro D. Dynamics of the oral microbiota as a tool to estimate time since death. Molecular oral microbiology. 2017;32(6):511-516. https://doi.org/10.1111/omi.12191
Ponomarev AB, Pikuleva EA. Metodologiya nauchnykh issledovaniy: Ucheb. posobie. Perm’: Izd-vo Perm. nats. issled. politekhn. un-ta; 2014. (In Russ.).
Nadyrov AI, Belenkova OA. Modeling as a method of scientific cognition and an instrument of solving technical problems. Mezhdunarodnyu nauchno-issledovatel’skiy zhurnal. 2016;54:12-2:157-158. (In Russ.).
Mina MV. Requirements imposed on model objects in microevolutionary investigations. Zhurnal obshchei biologii. 2015;76:4:260-265. (In Russ.).
Os’makova DV, Kolotova AA, Smirnova AO. The dog as a model object in biology and experimental medicine. Materialy IX Mezhdunarodnoy studencheskoy nauchnoy konferentsii «Studencheskiy nauchnyu forum». Data obrashcheniya: 12.01.21. (In Russ.). https://scienceforum.ru/2017/article/2017032171
Smirnov IA, Dunaev EA. Ispol’zovanie model’nykh ob»ektov v issledovatel’skoi deyatel’nosti po ekologii. Issledovatel’skiy podkhod v obrazovanii: ot teorii k praktike. Nauchno-metodicheskiy sbornik v dvukh tomakh. Pod obshchei red Obukhova A.S. M.: Izd-vo «Mezhregional’noe obshchestvennoe dvizhenie tvorcheskikh pedagogov «Issledovatel’»; 2009. (In Russ.).
Kozhevnikov DN. Complex use of models and model experiment in studyng of natural science disciplines. Vestnik Moskovskogo universiteta. Seriya 20. Pedagogicheskoe obrazovanie. 2014;1:70-85. (In Russ.).
Chadaev VE. Model objects in medicine and veterinary. Vestnik problem biologii i meditsiny. 2012;2(95):3:140-145. (In Russ.).
Ryabova LA, Balakin GYu. Krolik kak model´nij ob´ekt v biologii i experimental´noy meditsine. Materialy IX Mezhdunarodnoy studencheskoy nauchnoy konferentsii «Studencheskiy nauchnyi forum». Data obrashcheniya: 12.01.21. (In Russ.). https://scienceforum.ru/2017/article/2017032162