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Forensic Sciences
Special Issues
Microbial Forensics: Opportunities and Limitations
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Microbial Forensics: Opportunities and Limitations

A special issue of Forensic Sciences (ISSN 2673-6756).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (14 March 2025) | Viewed by 2141

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Manuela Oliveira

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Associate Laboratory i4HB-Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, University Institute of Health Sciences, CESPU, Avenida Central de Gandra 1317, 4585-116 Gandra, Portugal
2. UCIBIO, Research Unit on Applied Molecular Biosciences, Forensic Sciences Research Laboratory, University Institute of Health Sciences (1H-TOXRUN, IUCS-CESPU), Avenida Central de Gandra 1317, 4585-116 Gandra, Portugal
Interests: microbiology; microbial forensics; botany; botany forensic; molecular markers; genetics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are delighted to announce a Special Issue of the Forensic Sciences journal, ‘Microbial Forensics: Opportunities and Limitations’.

Microbial forensics, an emerging interdisciplinary field, has the potential to revolutionize forensic investigations, providing insights into a wide range of forensic cases, from tracking the source of bioterrorism agents to estimating post-mortem intervals. Despite its potential for supporting evidence in criminal investigations, this field remains underutilized.

Therefore, this Special Issue invites scholars to submit their original research articles, reviews, and case studies that explore the recent developments in the field of microbial forensics, highlighting novel methodologies, real-life cases, as well as potential applications and challenges. Interdisciplinary collaborations from researchers in microbiology, genetics, chemistry, forensic science, and related fields are welcome.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Manuela Oliveira
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Forensic Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1000 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • biocrime
  • bioterrorism
  • criminal investigations
  • forensic sciences
  • genetics

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 1832 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Entomological Sample Handling Techniques on a Single Larva Odor Profile
by Ana Zoe Monogan, Joshua L. Smith and Paola A. Prada-Tiedemann
Forensic Sci. 2025, 5(2), 21; https://doi.org/10.3390/forensicsci5020021 - 14 May 2025
Viewed by 472
Abstract
Background: Chemical odor profiling within forensic entomology is an emerging tool given its potential for species identification and larval aging and its ability to identify decomposition stages. A volatile analysis of larval masses across species of distinctive developmental stages was carried out with [...] Read more.
Background: Chemical odor profiling within forensic entomology is an emerging tool given its potential for species identification and larval aging and its ability to identify decomposition stages. A volatile analysis of larval masses across species of distinctive developmental stages was carried out with extraction techniques to identify odor signatures. However, it is unknown how larval sample handling (i.e., live samples in research vs. hot-water-killed samples in casework) affects odor signatures or the possibility of obtaining relevant volatiles from a single larva. Method: This study utilized solid-phase microextraction (SPME) with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS) for the analysis of odor volatiles emanating from single larval samples of Cochliomyia macellaria. Fifty (50) larvae (25 live; 25 boiled) were analyzed. Results: The SPME-GC/MS method allowed for odor volatile detection from a single maggot regardless of the sample handling group. The main compounds identified across both groups included those previously reported as emanating from larvae and decomposition substrates. When comparing treatments, the boiled larval samples had a 6-fold decrease in compound abundance compared to the live samples. The identified odor volatiles observed in the hot-water-killed treatment group included indole, p-cresol, and phenol. Conclusions: These results suggest that the handling technique impacts odor detection. Additionally, the heterocyclic aromatics and alcohols identified in the boiled samples are potentially odor markers of a higher intrinsic nature to the maggot rather than a cross-transfer from the decomposition substrate given their survival post elevated temperature treatment. This work shows the plausibility of carrying out an odor analysis of a single maggot following both common research and casework handling practices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Forensics: Opportunities and Limitations)
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12 pages, 8517 KiB  
Article
Linking Seasonal Temperature Variations with Laboratory-Derived Development Data for Chrysomya rufifacies (Macquart): A Case for Myiasis
by Tharindu B. Bambaradeniya, Paola A. Magni and Ian R. Dadour
Forensic Sci. 2025, 5(1), 10; https://doi.org/10.3390/forensicsci5010010 - 17 Feb 2025
Viewed by 394
Abstract
Background: The aging of fly larvae is primarily determined by their temperature-dependent growth rates, a concept widely applied in forensic entomology to estimate the minimum postmortem interval using the accumulated degree day/hour (ADD/ADH) method. Method: This study adapted the same approach for veterinary [...] Read more.
Background: The aging of fly larvae is primarily determined by their temperature-dependent growth rates, a concept widely applied in forensic entomology to estimate the minimum postmortem interval using the accumulated degree day/hour (ADD/ADH) method. Method: This study adapted the same approach for veterinary entomology, offering insights into how accumulated degree day (ADD) can be used to estimate both the number and timing of fly generations in nature. This study details a method for identifying the pupation landmarks of Ch. rufifacies (Macquart) by characterising seven distinct pupal stages over time. Following this, ADD values were calculated for each life stage using developmental data collected from two types of ovine muscle: muscle with fat and muscle without fat, at two temperatures: 24 ± 1 °C for autumn and 30 ± 1 °C for summer, reflecting typical seasonal conditions in southwestern Australia. Results: This study also provided a graphical illustration of how to estimate the number of fly generations emerging during a season, based on daily temperature data from autumn and summer in southwestern Australia for the 2023/2024 period. Conclusions: This approach highlights the value of developmental data and ADD methods in veterinary entomology, offering a robust framework for understanding fly population dynamics for effective myiasis control strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Forensics: Opportunities and Limitations)
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