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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Donna Lu Science writer

Bacteria transferred during intercourse could help identify sexual assault perpetrators, scientists say

Hand with swab and petri dish
Swabs from 12 couples before and after intercourse showed that a person’s bacterial signature could be identified on their partner after sex. Photograph: Tetra Images/Getty Images/Tetra images RF

Bacteria transferred between people during sexual intercourse could be used in forensic testing to help identify sexual assault perpetrators, an Australian study suggests.

Genital bacteria, similar to the microorganisms that make up the gut microbiome, vary between individuals. They are transferred to sexual partners during intercourse and leave specific signatures that can subsequently be detected, researchers found.

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