• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Chaminade University of Honolulu

Chaminade University of Honolulu

  • VISIT
  • APPLY
  • GIVE
  • STUDENTS
  • PARENTS
  • ALUMNI
  • FACULTY/STAFF
  • Admissions
    • Admissions Home
    • Freshman Students
    • Transfer Students
    • Graduate Students
    • Flex Online Undergraduate Program
    • Military Students
    • Non-Degree/Visiting Students
    • Experiential Honors Program
    • Early College Program
    • New Student Orientation
  • Tuition & Aid
    • Financial Aid Home
    • Tuition & Expenses
    • NEW FAFSA Changes
    • Scholarships
    • $5,000 Graduate Scholarship
    • Military Benefits
    • Net Price Calculator
  • Academics
    • Academics Home
    • Office of Student Success
    • Academic Advising
    • Academic Programs
    • Career Development
    • Registrar
    • Kokua Ike: Center for Student Learning
    • Undergrad Research & Pre-Professional Programs
    • Sullivan Family Library
  • Student Life
    • About Student Life
    • Silversword Athletics
    • Student Engagement
    • Student Government Association
    • Residence Life and Housing
    • Health Services
    • Marianist Leadership Center
    • Counseling Center
    • Campus Ministry
    • Campus Security
    • Dining Services
    • Bookstore
  • About
    • Chaminade University News
    • Our Story
    • Leadership
    • Strategic Plan 2024-2030
    • Mission & Rector
    • Association of Marianist Universities
    • Facts & Rankings
    • CIFAL Honolulu
    • Commencement
    • Accreditation & Memberships
    • Montessori Laboratory School
Search
×

Search this web site

Peer-Reviewed Paper

February 12, 2024

International journal accepts paper from Professor David Carter and colleagues

David Carter, Ph.D., literally wrote the book on forensic microbiology so, it was only natural that he was invited to co-author a published paper that will appear in Nature Microbiology. Completely comfortable discussing an issue that is often squeamish for many, the Forensic Sciences Program director casually speaks of cadavers and PMI (Post Mortem Interval) as if he’s talking about the weather.

“There’s definitely increasing interest in PMI (or the time that has elapsed since an individual’s death),” Carter says. “It’s critical information that could be key to solving a crime—or providing an alibi—in absence of any witnesses … or insects.”

Dr. David Carter holding his AAFS Pathology/Biology Section Award for Achievement in the Forensic Life Sciences.
Dr. David Carter holding his AAFS Pathology/Biology Section Award for Achievement in the Forensic Life Sciences.

The microbiomes associated with decomposing human cadavers are universal regardless of location or environmental conditions, the paper published in Nature Microbiology suggests. The findings show a conserved and predictable sequence of microbial interactions that break down organic matter, which could have implications for forensic science.

Decomposition is essentially nature’s recycling system. It is a fundamental process that recycles dead biological material to fuel biological processes, such as plant productivity and soil respiration. Microbial fungi and bacteria are predominantly responsible for decomposition, and although this process is well studied, research has focused predominantly on the breakdown of dead plant biomass. In contrast to plants, animal carcasses, including those of humans, are enriched in readily decomposable proteins and lipids, but their impact on biogeochemistry and community ecology are poorly understood.

In their research, Carter and his colleagues tracked the decomposition process in 36 human cadavers, which had been willed to science. The bodies were placed in three locations with either a temperate or semi-arid climate, with three cadavers placed at each location for each of the four seasons, and the researchers took samples of the cadavers’ skin and surrounding soil throughout the first 21 days postmortem. Their study found that decomposing human cadavers had a universal consortium of microbes, regardless of the location, climate or season, that are rare in non-decomposition environments and appear unique to the terrestrial breakdown of flesh.

“Jessica Metcalf of Colorado State and Rob Knight of UC San Diego and I initiated this research in 2011,” Cater says. “Our findings are a sign of success, but we’re still not quite there.”

With metagenome-assumed genomes and metabolomic profiling of soils adjacent to cadavers, Carter and his co-authors reconstructed a network of interaction that revealed how fungi and bacteria share resources as they metabolize decomposition products. Carter and his colleagues suggest that insects may serve as vectors that disperse these microbes from one decomposing animal to another.

According to Carter, using data on the microbial timeline of cadaver decomposition, combined with a machine learning model, they were also able to predict the time since death, which could have potential future applications for forensic science.

“We now have techniques that we didn’t have 20 years ago,” Carter asserts. “It’s also a lot easier for new science and other developments to get in the hands of lawyers and investigators, which makes for a stronger working relationship with criminologists to achieve criminal justice.”

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Posted by: University Communications & Marketing Filed Under: Faculty, Homepage, Innovation, Uncategorized Tagged With: Faculty, Forensic Sciences, Honors and Awards

BC28-BestValue-2025
Apply Now
Request Info
Contact Us

Footer

Chaminade University Logo

3140 Waialae Avenue
Honolulu, Hawaii 96816

Contact Us
Phone: (808) 735-4711
Toll-free: (800) 735-3733

facebook twitter instagram youtube linkedin

Visit

  • Plan a Visit
  • Campus Map (PDF)
  • Events

Resources

  • Campus Security
  • Student Consumer Information
  • Institutional Review Board
  • Title IX / Nondiscrimination Policy
  • Compliance
  • Emergency Information
  • Careers
  • Campus Incident Report
  • Institutional Statement

People

  • Students
  • Parents
  • Alumni
  • Faculty & Staff

Policy

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions of Use


© Chaminade University of Honolulu