Microbial and seminal traces of sexual intercourse and forensic implications
Taken together, this study revealed that the vaginal microbiome is better at predicting recent sexual intercourse, while the victim's underwear has a clear value as additional biological trace evidence for semen detection. These findings are particularly useful in cases with delayed reporting and are obtained with less invasive sampling. Video Abstract.
Authors
- Peter A. Bron (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-5436-5126)
- Joke Wuestenbergs (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8155-4344)
- Stijn Wittouck (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3913-5677)
- Ronny Decorte (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0001-386X)
- Inge Smeers (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7948-118X)
- Sarah Ahannach (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8274-5342)
- Natasha Arora (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6144-4743)
- Thies Gehrmann (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4666-5406)
- Irina Spacova (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0562-7489)
- Sarah Lebeer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9400-6918)
- Meghna Swayambhu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3758-5156)
- Leonore Vander Donck (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6445-5237)
- Bram Bekaert (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5370-7363)
- Els Jehaes
- Larissa Schuh
- Iris Tournoy
- Jana Hiers
- Maryse Cromphout
Institutions
- University of Antwerp (BE)
- University of Zurich (CH)
- Antwerp University Hospital (BE)
- Province of Antwerp (BE)
- KU Leuven (BE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Microbiome
- Published
- 2025-11-20
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s40168-025-02268-7
- Citations
- 2
- Primary Topic
- Forensic and Genetic Research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 3.63
Funders
- Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek
- Universiteit Antwerpen
- Vlaamse regering
- Bijzonder Onderzoeksfonds UGent