Emerging Applications of Microbial Forensics in Criminal Investigations: A Review

Microbial forensics has greatly advanced due to recent developments in genetic data creation, especially through massive parallel sequencing (MPS), opening new investigative opportunities for criminal cases. Microbial forensics was first applied in environments related to crime, bioterrorism, and epidemiology, but it now has a wider application. Using microorganisms as evidence in criminal cases, determining the causes of death (e.g., drownings and hospital-acquired infections), aiding in human identification through skin, hair, and bodily fluid microbiomes, offering geolocation information through soil microbiome, and making use of thanato-microbiome and epinecrotic microbial communities to estimate postmortem intervals are a few examples. With its many benefits over conventional microbiological techniques, massive parallel sequencing makes it possible to detect and analyse microbial communities with previously unheard-of speed and accuracy. To guarantee dependability, reproducibility, and effective data analysis, incorporating MPS in forensic contexts calls for the creation of established methods, extensive reference libraries, and improved computational tools. The ongoing advancement of MPS technology has enormous potential to enhance forensic procedures and results. Continuous improvements in MPS technology have the potential to completely transform forensic procedures and improve the precision, effectiveness, and results of forensic investigations. MPS technology is an essential instrument in the forensic science toolbox, and as it advances, we may expect significant advancements in forensic procedures and the handling of challenging cases.