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Hilal MG, Yu Q, Zhou R, Wang Y, Feng T, Li X, Li H. Exploring microbial communities, assessment methodologies and applications of animal's carcass decomposition: a review. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2021; 97:6311132. [PMID: 34185048 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiab098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Animals are an essential part of the ecosystem, and their carcasses are the nutrient patches or hotspots where nutrients accumulate for a long time. After death, the physical and chemical properties undergo alterations inside the carcass. The animal carcass is decomposed by many decomposers such as bacteria, fungi, microeukaryotes and insects. The role of microbial symbionts in living organisms is well explored and studied, but there is a scarcity of knowledge and research related to their role in decomposing animal carcasses. Microbes play an important role in carcass decomposition. The origins of microbial communities associated with a carcass, including the internal and external microbiome, are discussed in this review. The succession and methods used for the detection and exploration of decomposition-associated microbial communities have been briefly described. Also, the applications of carcass-associated microbial taxa have been outlined. This review is intended to understand the dynamics of microbial communities associated with the carcass and pave the way to estimate postmortem interval and its role in recycling nutrients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mian Gul Hilal
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Tianshui South Road #222, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, PR China
| | - Qiaoling Yu
- Institute of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Rui Zhou
- Institute of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Yijie Wang
- Institute of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Tianshu Feng
- Institute of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Xiangkai Li
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Tianshui South Road #222, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, PR China
| | - Huan Li
- Institute of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China.,Center for Grassland Microbiome, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
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Ilardi MO, Cotter SC, Hammer EC, Riddell G, Caruso T. Scavenging beetles control the temporal response of soil communities to carrion decomposition. Funct Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marco O. Ilardi
- School of Biological Sciences Queen's University Belfast Belfast UK
| | | | | | - Gillian Riddell
- School of Biological Sciences Queen's University Belfast Belfast UK
| | - Tancredi Caruso
- School of Biology & Environmental Science University College Dublin Dublin 4 Ireland
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Procopio N, Ghignone S, Williams A, Chamberlain A, Mello A, Buckley M. Metabarcoding to investigate changes in soil microbial communities within forensic burial contexts. Forensic Sci Int Genet 2019; 39:73-85. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fsigen.2018.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2018] [Revised: 11/17/2018] [Accepted: 12/10/2018] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
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Kodama WA, Xu Z, Metcalf JL, Song SJ, Harrison N, Knight R, Carter DO, Happy CB. Trace Evidence Potential in Postmortem Skin Microbiomes: From Death Scene to Morgue. J Forensic Sci 2018; 64:791-798. [PMID: 30408195 DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.13949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2018] [Revised: 10/11/2018] [Accepted: 10/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Microbes can be used effectively as trace evidence, at least in research settings. However, it is unknown whether skin microbiomes change prior to autopsy and, if so, whether these changes interfere with linking objects to decedents. The current study included microbiomes from 16 scenes of death in the City and County of Honolulu and tested whether objects at the scenes can be linked to individual decedents. Postmortem skin microbiomes were stable during repeated sampling up to 60 h postmortem and were similar to microbiomes of an antemortem population. Objects could be traced to decedents approximately 75% of the time, with smoking pipes and medical devices being especially accurate (100% match), house and car keys being poor (0%), and other objects like phones intermediate (~80%). These results show that microbes from objects at death scenes can be matched to individual decedents, opening up a new method of establishing associations and identifications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Whitney A Kodama
- City and County of Honolulu Department of the Medical Examiner, 835 Iwilei Street, Honolulu, 96817, HI.,Laboratory of Forensic Taphonomy, Forensic Sciences Unit, Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Chaminade University of Honolulu, 3140 Waialae Avenue, Honolulu, 96816, HI
| | - Zhenjiang Xu
- School of Food Science and Technology, Nanchang University, 235 Nanjing East Road, Nanchang City, Jiangxi, Nanchang, China.,State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Nanchang University, 235 Nanjing East Road, Nanchang City, Jiangxi, Nanchang, China.,Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, 92093, CA
| | - Jessica L Metcalf
- Department of Animal Sciences, Colorado State University, 350 W. Pitkin Street, Ft. Collins, 80523-1171, CO
| | - Se Jin Song
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, 92093, CA
| | - Nicholas Harrison
- Laboratory of Forensic Taphonomy, Forensic Sciences Unit, Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Chaminade University of Honolulu, 3140 Waialae Avenue, Honolulu, 96816, HI
| | - Rob Knight
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, 92093, CA.,Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, 92093, CA.,Center for Microbiome Innovation, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, 92093-0403, CA
| | - David O Carter
- Laboratory of Forensic Taphonomy, Forensic Sciences Unit, Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Chaminade University of Honolulu, 3140 Waialae Avenue, Honolulu, 96816, HI
| | - Christopher B Happy
- City and County of Honolulu Department of the Medical Examiner, 835 Iwilei Street, Honolulu, 96817, HI
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Fialho VS, Rodrigues VB, Elliot SL. Nesting strategies and disease risk in necrophagous beetles. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:3296-3310. [PMID: 29607025 PMCID: PMC5869311 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2017] [Revised: 01/11/2018] [Accepted: 01/16/2018] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
While the effects of carcass decomposition on microorganisms have been demonstrated in recent years, little is known of how this impacts necrophagous insects. A common assumption is that insects that exploit carcasses are exposed to a high density of potentially harmful microorganisms, but no field data have so far validated this. Necrophagous beetles such as the Scarabaeinae have complex nesting behaviors with elaborate parental care. So here, we begin to explore whether this conjunction of life history and nesting behavior represents an adaptive response to the threat posed by microbes in these environments, mainly by entomopathogens. We evaluated the density and distribution of fungi and bacteria from soil near the carcasses, and their ability to infect and kill insects that are in contact with this soil during the decomposition process. Our data showed an increase in the density and activity of opportunistic or facultative pathogens during the apex of decomposition, when there is a predominance of necrophagous insects. Meanwhile, the survivorship of bait insects decreased when in contact with soil from this period of decomposition, indicating a potential risk of infection. However, the density and activity of these microorganisms decreased with distance from the carcass, mainly with depth, which would benefit tunneller beetles in particular. We have thus provided the first field data to show that necrophagous insects are indeed exposed to high densities of potentially harmful microorganisms. Furthermore, we propose that some parental care strategies may have arisen not only as a response to competition, but also as adaptations that reduce the risks of disease. Although we have focused on carrion feeders, we suggest that the same occurs with coprophagous beetles, as both carrion and dung are nutrient‐rich resources.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Simon Luke Elliot
- Department of Entomology Universidade Federal de Viçosa Viçosa Minas Gerais Brazil
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