New Study Suggests Bacteria from Intercourse May Aid in Sexual Assault Investigations

AUAustralia|

An Australian study indicates that bacteria transferred during sexual intercourse could assist in forensic investigations to identify sexual assault perpetrators, particularly in cases where traditional DNA evidence is lacking. Researchers from Murdoch University found that unique bacterial signatures, termed "sexomes," are exchanged between partners, visible even when barrier methods like condoms are used.

Dr. Brendan Chapman, lead supervisor of the study, explained that this method could be invaluable in situations where no sperm is detected, as approximately 97% of sexual assault perpetrators in Australia are male. The study involved genital swabs from 12 heterosexual couples before and after intercourse, revealing that a person's bacterial signature could be detected on their partner post-coitus. Notably, the transfer remained evident even after condom use, suggesting resilience in bacterial exchange.

While the technique shows promise in expanding the testing window beyond the usual 24-hour sperm detection timeframe, Chapman cautioned that its application in court is still distant. The study was published in the journal iScience.

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