Microbiome and Metabolome Profiles of Forensic Body Fluids

A 2026 forensic science study by Yu Deng provides integrated untargeted metabolomic and full-length 16S rRNA sequencing data for fresh saliva, semen, vaginal secretions, and their mixtures, with microbial analysis after 15 and 30 days of indoor exposure. The dataset supports body fluid identification and time-since-deposition estimation, with a random forest model achieving 100% identification accuracy using combined microbial and metabolic features.

Use Cases

• Train a random forest classifier on differential microbes and metabolites to identify body fluid types from forensic samples.
• Analyze temporal changes in 16S rRNA sequencing profiles after 15 and 30 days of indoor exposure to estimate time since deposition.
• Investigate metabolite-microbe correlations, such as those involving steroid and bile acid metabolism pathways, unique to each body fluid.
• Identify characteristic putatively identified metabolites like α-solanine, candicidin, and megalomicin C1 as potential biomarkers for specific fluids.

Strengths

• Data integrates two complementary forensic analysis methods: untargeted UHPLC-QTOF/MS metabolomics and full-length 16S rRNA sequencing.
• Includes analysis of mixed fluid samples (SA-VF and SE-VF) and temporal data from samples exposed for 15 and 30 days.
• Reported random forest model achieved 100% body fluid identification accuracy using combined microbial and metabolomic features.

Limitations

• Small dataset size of 28.9 MB suggests a limited number of samples, which may constrain statistical power and model generalization.
• Findings are provisional due to the exploratory nature of non-targeted approaches, as noted by the authors.
• Time-since-deposition prediction showed reduced effectiveness for mixed fluid samples compared to single-fluid samples.

Provenance

Source

figshare, authored by Yu Deng.

Collection Method

Laboratory study performing untargeted metabolomic profiling and full-length 16S rRNA sequencing on collected body fluid samples.

Time Range

Samples analyzed fresh and after 15 and 30 days of indoor exposure; publication date 2026.

Freshness

Last updated March 2026.