Detection of Buried Human Remains Using Bioreporter Fluorescence

Vass, Arpad ; Burlage, Robert ; Singleton, George B.

Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant

关键词: Plants;    Putrescine;    Microorganisms;    Enforcement;    Fluorescence;   

DOI  :  10.2172/799515
RP-ID  :  Y/NSP-726
RP-ID  :  AC05-00OR22800
RP-ID  :  799515

美国|英语

来源: UNT Digital Library

【 摘 要 】

The search for buried human remains is a difficult, laborious and time-consuming task for law enforcement agencies. This study was conducted as a proof of principle demonstration to test the concept of using bioreporter microorganisms as a means to cover large areas in such a search. These bioreporter microorganisms are affected by a particular component of decaying organic matter that is distinct from decaying vegetation. The diamino compounds cadaverine and putrescine were selected as target compounds for the proof-of-principle investigation, and a search for microorganisms and genes that are responsive to either of these compounds was conducted. One recombinant clone was singled out for characterization based on its response to putrescine. The study results show that small concentrations of putrescine increased expression from this bioreporter construct. Although the level of increase was small (making it difficult to distinguish the signal from background), the results demonstrate the principle that bioreporters can be used to detect compounds resulting from decaying human remains and suggest that a wider search for target compounds should be conducted.