What Is the “Thanatomicrobiome” and What Is Its Relevance to Forensic Investigations?

Abstract Is death the end of life? In some ways it is; but in regards to the thanatomicrobiome (microbiome of death) on and in human remains, there are multitudes of living microorganisms after human death that have the potential to assist in medicolegal investigations. Determination of the precise cause and time since death, or postmortem interval, are crucial data for forensic science when criminal deaths are not witnessed, or when conflicting accounts are reported. Over the past decade, advances in high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics have allowed the phylogenetic inventory of immense numbers of microorganisms in a variety of forensic applications. For example, several studies involve identifying humans using skin microbiota, determining body sample tissue sources, estimating postmortem interval, and identifying microorganisms. This chapter will discuss the current and emerging thanatomicrobiome technologies that forensically exploit microorganisms for use in criminal investigations and adjudication.