Article
Entomology
Giorgia Giordani, Daniel Whitmore, Stefano Vanin
Summary: Species identification is crucial in scientific studies, and can be done through morphological characters or molecular markers. However, traditional DNA extraction methods are invasive and can damage specimens, which is not suitable for certain samples. This study presents a non-invasive DNA extraction technique for identifying species of flies in the genus Sarcophaga, demonstrating successful results on specimens collected over a long period of time.
Article
Entomology
Yifei Luo, Fanming Meng
Summary: Unambiguous and speedy necrophagous insect species identification is a common task in forensic entomological study. Carrion beetles belong to a small group of Coleoptera with less than 200 species worldwide. DNA-based technologies offer a potential identification strategy for carrion beetles, and the study successfully sequenced the COI and COII genes of 37 carrion beetle specimens, providing reliable markers for precise identification.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rana El Sayed Negm, Fatma Kamel Adham, Refaat Mohamed Gabre, Abeer Mohsen Mohamed
Summary: Forensic entomological analysis often involves using molecular tools to identify species associated with decay processes. This study successfully used the COI gene as a marker to distinguish forensically significant C. vicina specimens from Egypt. The findings highlight the importance of rigorous testing and genetic analysis in utilizing DNA barcoding for molecular identification.
FRESENIUS ENVIRONMENTAL BULLETIN
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Giorgia Giordani, Fabiola Tuccia, Daniel Martin-Vega, Chris S. Angell, Jennifer Pradelli, Stefano Vanin
Summary: Piophilidae is a globally distributed family of small Diptera insects historically associated with human activities. Their larvae have medical and legal relevance in addition to their economic importance. Piophilids are frequently found on bodies in advanced stages of decomposition, making them potential forensic indicators, and have also been reported in archaeological funeral contexts. Accurate species identification is essential for reliable analysis of insect material in medical, forensic, and archaeological investigations. This study describes the puparia of 11 species of forensic interest and presents a molecular analysis using COI sequencing for their identification.
MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Juliana Perez-Perez, John Alexander Pulgarin Diaz, Andres Lopez-Rubio, Luz M. Gomez-Pinerez, Guillermo Rua-Uribe, Edna J. Marquez
Summary: We investigated the genetic variation of Lucilia eximia from eight localities in Colombia and found significant differentiation at COI and Cytb-tRNA-Ser-ND1 level, characterizing two lineages. These results have important implications for accurate identification of L. eximia in forensic and medical science.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Maria-Isabel Arnaldos, Maria-Dolores Garcia
Summary: Insects and other arthropods found at a forensic scene provide valuable evidence on the time and place of death, treatment of the victim, and geographical origin of substances. However, to draw firm conclusions from entomological evidence, a comprehensive understanding of insect biology in the area is crucial. This study highlights the importance of entomological studies and expert training in forensic investigations, as demonstrated through actual cases in Southeastern Spain.
Article
Entomology
Jennifer Pradelli, Fabiola Tuccia, Giorgia Giordani, Stefano Vanin
Summary: This study focuses on the cleaning and identification of Diptera puparia in forensic and archaeo-funerary contexts. The results indicate that cleaning via warm water/soap, sonication, and treatment with a sodium hydroxide solution are the most effective methods to achieve a good quality of the samples. These methods help improve the visualization of diagnostic characters on the puparia and facilitate species-level identification.
Review
Entomology
Szymon Matuszewski
Summary: Forensic entomology is crucial in estimating the post-mortem interval of human cadavers. Research on the development and succession of carrion insects, thermogenesis in aggregations of their larvae, and error rates of PMI estimation protocols are key areas to focus on to improve accuracy. Challenges related to education, promotion, and insect evidence collection are also important considerations in advancing this field.
Article
Medicine, Legal
Heather L. Deel, Sophia Montoya, Keli King, Alexandra L. Emmons, Cameron Huhn, Aaron M. Lynne, Jessica L. Metcalf, Sibyl R. Bucheli
Summary: This study examines the microbiome of flies associated with human cadavers and finds that these flies have a similar microbiome to flies not associated with human cadavers. However, there are differences in the microbiome between seasons and fly parts. The study also shows that flies contribute to the human decomposer microbiome, providing important insights into the ecological mechanisms of human cadaver microbial community assembly.
FORENSIC SCIENCE INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Marcin Kadej, Lukasz Szleszkowski, Agata Thannhauser, Tomasz Jurek
Summary: This article describes three cases of mummified human corpses in indoor conditions that were colonised by members of the Dermestidae. The main species found was Dermestes haemorrhoidalis, which is considered relatively rare in Poland and was first observed on human corpses in Wroclaw in 2020. Although members of the Dermestidae are relatively common in experimental studies in Poland, there have been no previous reports of these beetles directly colonising human corpses.
Article
Entomology
Andrzej Grzywacz, Mateusz Jarmusz, Kinga Walczak, Rafal Skowronek, Nikolas P. Johnston, Krzysztof Szpila
Summary: Forensic entomology is the practice of utilizing insects on dead organisms to determine time of death, with molecular identification methods allowing for accurate identification of fly species and developmental stages. This study fills gaps in fly taxonomy and provides updated information on key characteristics for species differentiation.
Article
Entomology
Teresa Bonacci, Federica Mendicino, Domenico Bonelli, Francesco Carlomagno, Giuseppe Curia, Chiara Scapoli, Marco Pezzi
Summary: An experimental study in rural Italy found that burying corpses at a depth of about 25cm can prevent colonization by sarcosaprophagous fauna. This could have implications for forensic investigations involving buried bodies.
Article
Entomology
Carl E. Hjelmen, Ye Yuan, Jonathan J. Parrott, Alexander S. McGuane, Satyam P. Srivastav, Amanda C. Purcell, Meaghan L. Pimsler, Sing-Hoi Sze, Aaron M. Tarone
Summary: Investigated the use of microRNAs as markers for immature blow fly development in the forensically relevant species Cochliomyia macellaria, and identified potential markers of development time. Explored factors such as genetic variation and sex that may influence miRNA expression throughout development.
Article
Entomology
Senta Niederegger, Gita Mall
Summary: Many factors can affect human remains' appearance. In one case, bones appeared exposed for months but fly maggots indicated only about two weeks. Perpetrator confession confirmed the shorter time. Both skeletonization and feeding larvae were found on the body, with identification of dentures ultimately solving the case.
Article
Biology
Fahd A. Al-Mekhlafi
Summary: The study found that burial depth and temperature are key factors affecting the decomposition rate of rat carcasses, with no observed insect activity.
SAUDI JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Deborah S. B. S. Silva, Melissa K. Scheible, Sarah F. Bailey, Christopher L. Williams, Julia S. Allwood, Rebecca S. Just, Jared Schuetter, Nicholas Skomrock, Angela Minard-Smith, Nicole Barker-Scoggins, Christopher Eichman, Kelly Meiklejohn, Seth A. Faith
FORENSIC SCIENCE INTERNATIONAL-GENETICS
(2020)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Min Jee Kim, Iksoo Kim, Stephen L. Cameron
SYSTEMATIC ENTOMOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Andrew D. Sweet, Kevin P. Johnson, Stephen L. Cameron
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Ashley M. Cooley, Kelly A. Meiklejohn, Natalie Damaso, James M. Robertson, Tracey Dawson Cruz
Summary: The study compared the performance of two massively parallel sequencing systems and showed that automating the workflow with the Ion Chef system reduced labor involved and increased sequencing quality.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Andrew D. Sweet, Kevin P. Johnson, Yanghui Cao, Robert S. de Moya, Rachel K. Skinner, Milton Tan, Stephany Virrueta Herrera, Stephen L. Cameron
Summary: Parasitic lice have unique mitochondrial genomes characterized by rearranged gene orders, variable structures, and less AT content compared to other insects. The mitochondrial genomes of Amblycera are highly rearranged and AT-biased, with genus-level phylogenetic relationships being consistent with large nuclear datasets but gene order data being unreliable in recovering these relationships. Overall, the mt genomes of lice are more variable than previously thought.
Article
Medicine, Legal
Melissa K. R. Scheible, Emma K. Timpano, Laura M. Boggs, Kelly A. Meiklejohn
Summary: Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have value in forensic applications, offering advantages over short tandem repeat (STR) markers. Through the use of different polymerase master mixes, an effective workflow was developed to successfully genotype 93.9% of SNPs.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LEGAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Zoology
Shasta C. Henry, Stephen L. Cameron, Adam Smolenski, Peter McQuillan
Summary: The paper describes a new species of Tasmanian cockroach, Polyzosteria yingina, and uses evidence from morphology, biogeography, and molecular analysis to distinguish it from related Australian taxa. The species has two distinct populations in different environments. The study also speculates on potential reasons for the unusual distribution of this charismatic insect.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Natalie Damaso, Emily C. Ashe, Kelly A. Meiklejohn, Mark F. Kavlick, James M. Robertson
Summary: The study demonstrated that PrimeSTAR HS and KAPA HiFi HotStart polymerases outperformed AmpliTaq Gold DNA polymerase for amplifying mtDNA from challenging hair samples, showing a significant increase in yields.
FORENSIC SCIENCE INTERNATIONAL-GENETICS
(2021)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Manuela Moreno-Carmona, Stephen L. Cameron, Carlos Fernando Prada Quiroga
Summary: The evolution of the Hexapoda mitochondrial genome has been a focus of recent genetic and evolutionary studies. By analyzing 1198 Hexapoda species from 32 taxonomic orders, it was discovered that there is a significant variation in the rate of mitochondrial gene rearrangements. Additionally, 24 convergence events in genetic order between different taxonomic orders were identified, indicating a high level of evolutionary dynamics within Hexapoda.
Article
Zoology
Liang Wang, Shuangmei Ding, Stephen L. Cameron, Xin Li, Yue Liu, Gang Yao, Ding Yang
Summary: Vermileonidae is an odd and rarely collected dipteran family, with larvae famous for their unique prey behavior and adults rarely seen. Researchers have sequenced the complete mitochondrial genome of Vermileonidae for the first time, providing insights into its phylogenetic relationships with other flies. By combining mitochondrial genome data with morphology, geographical distribution, and geological history, researchers propose that Vermileonidae originated in India and spread to Africa, the Palaearctic, and the Nearctic through land bridges.
ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Avas Pakrashi, Vikas Kumar, David A. C. Stanford-Beale, Stephen L. Cameron, Kaomud Tyagi
Summary: This study provides new insights into the mitogenomic features, gene arrangement, phylogeny, and divergence time estimation of thrips belonging to the order Thysanoptera.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
M. L. Starkie, S. L. Cameron, M. N. Krosch, M. J. Phillips, J. E. Royer, M. K. Schutze, F. Strutt, A. D. Sweet, M. P. Zalucki, A. R. Clarke
Summary: This study reconstructed the phylogenetic relationships of Dacini tribe by analyzing species from Australia, the Pacific, and Southeast Asia. The results showed that the Australian fauna has high levels of endemism and the divergence time of the tribe is younger than previously reported. The evolution of male lure response exhibited a strong signal, while the signal for host breadth evolution was weaker.
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Biology
Andrew D. Sweet, Kevin P. Johnson, Stephen L. Cameron
Summary: The fragmentation of mitochondrial genomes in parasitic lice has evolved multiple times and is highly variable, showing associations with relaxed selection and lower AT% composition. These findings provide important insights into mitochondrial evolution.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Legal
Kelly A. Meiklejohn, Melissa K. R. Scheible, Laura M. Boggs, Robert R. Dunn, Darrell O. Ricke
Summary: SNP genotyping using massively parallel sequencing (MPS) from indoor dust can detect known household occupants, providing valuable supplemental information for forensic investigations.
JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Legal
Teresa M. Tiedge, Kelly A. Meiklejohn
Summary: Soil is a valuable resource in criminal investigations due to its variability and ability to be easily transferred. This study assessed three different soil removal methods and their impact on the analysis of environmental DNA (eDNA). The results showed that picking/scraping was the most effective method in terms of DNA concentration, and the removal method had no impact on the recovery of target DNA variants. These findings suggest that picking/scraping is a suitable soil removal method for eDNA analysis.
JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES
(2023)