Oral microbiome profiling as a forensic tool for saliva and sex identification

Faculty Medicine Year: 2026
Type of Publication: ZU Hosted Pages:
Authors:
Journal: Gene Reports Elsevier Volume:
Keywords : Oral microbiome profiling , , forensic tool , saliva    
Abstract:
The rapid evolution of forensic molecular biology has shown the utility of the oral microbiota as a consistent biomarker for body fluid identification. This study assessed the use of quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) to detect three oral bacterial species, Streptococcus salivarius, Streptococcus sanguinis, and Neisseria subflava, for forensic saliva identification and sex determination. A cross-sectional descriptive study was performed in 45 healthy male and female volunteers aged 18–24 years at the School of Medicine, Badr University, in Cairo. DNA was isolated from saliva, nasal fluid, and blood samples and assessed via qPCR. The expression levels of the three bacterial strains were much greater in saliva than in nasal fluid or blood (p < 0.001), validating their specificity for the oral microbiome. A discriminant function based on S. sanguinis and N. subflava correctly classified sex with an overall accuracy of 75.6%, with S. sanguinis showing statistically significant contribution and N. subflava showing borderline significance (p = 0.05). The results confirmed that qPCR of specific oral bacterial DNA provides a sensitive and specific test for the identification of saliva with good prospects for sex determination in forensic science. Further large-scale validation studies are suggested to ensure its applicability in actual forensic environments.
   
     
 
       

Author Related Publications

  • Dina Mohamed Naguib AbdelMeawad, "Sex estimation using Magnetic Resonance Imaging measurements of hand and foot in Egyptian population", Springer Nature, 2024 More
  • Dina Mohamed Naguib AbdelMeawad, "Guidelines for Scrutiny of Death Associated With Surgery and Anesthesia", Springer Nature, 2024 More
  • Dina Mohamed Naguib AbdelMeawad, "Acute ivermectin toxicity on skin and brain tissue of adult albino rats: Evaluation of the role of Flumazenil and Vitamin C as new treatment modalities", Elsevier, 2025 More
  • Dina Mohamed Naguib AbdelMeawad, "Genetic variants associated with sudden cardiac death in the young: a systematic review", Springer Nature, 2025 More
  • Dina Mohamed Naguib AbdelMeawad, "Association of designer drug use and sudden cardiac death: a systematic review", Springer Nature, 2025 More

Department Related Publications

  • Mona Demerdash Ibrahim, "فاعلية الجمع بين عقاري الديسفيرال و الديفربرون في التخلص من الحديد الزائد في الأطفال المصابين بأنيميا البحر المتوسط.", لايوجد, 1900 More
  • Heba Elsayed Mustafa Ahmad, "Could curcumin ameliorate titanium dioxide nanoparticles effect on the heart? A histopathological, immunohistochemical, and genotoxic study", Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2019 More
  • Eman Ahmed Alaaeldeen, "Could curcumin ameliorate titanium dioxide nanoparticles effect on the heart? A histopathological, immunohistochemical, and genotoxic study", Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2019 More
  • Eman Abdallah Ahmed Aly, "Liver Dysfunction in Sternness Burn Injury in Association to Age Estimate: A Conceivable Role of Antioxidant Biomarker and Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha الاختلال الوظيفي للكبد عند الإصابة بالحرق وارتباطه بتقدير عمر الاصابة: الدور الحيوي لمضاد", Scientific research publishing, 2022 More
  • Bothina Hassan Fouad Ali Omran, "Paraphenylenediamine Hepatotoxic Effects in Adult Female Albino Rats", Zagazig University, Faculty of Medicine, Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology Department, 2021 More
Tweet