Investigative and Predictive Forensic Microbiology

Dr. Hirak Ranjan Dash is an Assistant Professor of Forensic Biotechnology at the National Forensic Sciences University, Delhi Campus, India. He obtained his PhD degree in Life Science from the National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, India. Previously, he served as a DNA expert at Forensic Science Laboratory, Madhya Pradesh, India. His research interests include forensic microbiology, microbial phylogeny, forensic DNA analysis, genetic markers, and next generation sequencing. He has published 50 research papers and 9 books. He has previously received a research fellowship from the Indian Academy of Science. He is a pioneer in India working on NGS-based forensic DNA analysis. He is a life member of the Association of Microbiologists of India, International Society of Forensic Geneticists, and Asian Federation of Biotechnologists.

• PART I. INTRODUCTORY FORENSIC MICROBIOLOGY1. Human Normal Microflora. Scope and Forensics Applications2. Classical Methods of Analyzing Microbes3. Metagenomics Approach of Investigating Microorganisms of Human Body4. Useful Molecular Microbiological Tools and Techniques5. An Overview of Human Microbiome Project (HMP) And Soil Microbiome Project (SMP). A Precursor of Investigative Microbiology6. Application of Microbiology in the Investigation of Historical CasesPART II. ADVANCED TECHNIQUES OF ANALYZING MICROBES7. MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry. A Useful Tool in Detecting Microbes8. q. A Valuable Tool for Detection and Enumeration of Microflora9. Use Of Next Generation Sequencing Approach of Microbial Analysis10. Microarray Based Detection of Microorganisms11. Bioinformatic Tools and Techniques Useful for Investigation of Microorganisms12. Application of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Forensic MicrobiologyPART III. BIODEFENSE AND EMERGING INFECTIONS13. Emerging Infectious Bacteria as a National Threat14. Emerging Pathogenic Virus as a Potential Bioterrorism Agent15. Identification of Causative Agent. Investigation Process of a Suspected Bioterrorist Attack16. Bioterrorism. Epidemiological and Microbiological Investigations17. Threat of Microbial Toxins as a Bioterrorism Agent18. Tools and Techniques of Analyzing Microbial Toxins of Forensic Interest19. Phytopathology, Agroterrorism and the Potential Microbial Agents20. Microbial Exploitation of Food SafetyPART IV. MICROBIAL TOOL IN FORENSIC MEDICINE21. Thanatomicrobiome Analysis to Estimate Post-Mortem Time Interval (PMI)22. Utilization of Microorganisms in Investigating Drowning Cases23. Exploitation of Dysbiosis Phenomenon for the Analysis Cause and Manner of Death24. Microbial Investigation of the Unexplained Death Cases25. Importance of Microbial Testing in Establishing Cause of Death26. Microbial Succession of Oral Microbiota to Estimate PMI27. Potential Microbial Biomarkers for Estimation of PMI28. Deciphering the Cause of Infectious Death in Outbreaks. A Forensic PerspectivePART V. INVESTIGATIVE MICROBIOLOGY29. Detection of Forensically Relevant Body Fluids by Analysis of Microflora30. Analysis of Time Since Deposition of Body Fluid Stains Using Microflora31. Individualistic Microflora. A Useful Tool for Forensic Analysis32. Prediction Of Geolocation of an Individual by Analyzing Microbes33. Insights from Paleomicrobiology. An Analysis of Ancient Microbial DNA (aDNA)34. Investigation of Sexual Assault Cases Using Microflora35. Estimation of Age of an Individual by Microflora36. Emerging Microbial Techniques for Environmental ForensicsPART VI. CHALLENGES AND FUTURISTIC APPROACHES37. Considerations and Statistical Interpretation of Microbial Forensic Data38. Challenges pf Microbial Sampling for Forensic Analysis39. Regulations of Microbial Agents and Potential Challenges40. Microbial Degradation of Forensic Biological Exhibits. Impediments and Solutions41. Microbial Forensics Data in the Context of Forensics42. Microbial Repositories and Microbial Databases Useful for Forensic Research43. Standardization of Microbial Metagenomics Workflow for Forensic Analysis44. Ethical Considerations and Legal Implications of Forensic Microbiology