Does the Isala team have an interesting route in mind to assist female victims of sexual violence? Absolutely! And are we starting by studying bacteria on bras! ย ย
Even iconic characters from famous detective and police series couldn’t come up with this. However, we at Isala are convinced that bras can be a valuable source of information in the courtroom. And yes, bras are often collected as evidence during the physical examination after a rape, but unfortunately, they are not always fully utilized in the subsequent legal process. The Isala team hopes to change that. Keep reading! ๐
CSI: Microbiome Edition
In cases of rape or other instances of sexual violence, biological evidence is crucial. By evidence, we mean classic DNA, blood, skin cells, semen, and so on. This can be collected from the crime scene or from the victim’s body. The major drawback with this type of evidence is that it is highly sensitive to temperature, acidity, and the activity of bacteria and other living organisms like animals. Additionally, it needs to be present in large quantities to conduct meaningful research. Especially after sexual violence, victims often shower after the incident, leading to a rapid decrease in the amount of evidence. Moreover, collecting samples after sexual violence (the Sexual Aggression Kit) is an enormously invasive process for the victim. In other words, we need to find a new type of biological evidence that is somewhat more stable but equally reliable. We at Isala believe that bacteria can help provide the answer to this! ๐
As explained in the blog of Sarah Ahannach during her PhD and by predecessor Jana during her masterโs thesis, we can use the bacteria present in different places on the body as a microbial fingerprint. This means that in theory, we can use a few typical bacteria to determine the origin of a sample. This way, we can investigate what actions exactly took place and thus confirm or refute the victim’s story. It’s quite a mouthful, but we’ll take you step by step through our process!
For example, a victim of unwanted sexual touches reports to the Care Centre for Sexual Violence (SVC) in Edegem. She states that she was bitten on her breasts, but there are no visible tooth marks. By taking a swab from the breast skin, we (in theory) could detect the unique microbial fingerprint of the perpetrator’s saliva and thus support her story.
Bras as reservoirs of bacteria
We find bacteria not only on the human body but also on textiles and other surfaces. Even our clothing, which we come into contact with all day, has its own collection of bacteria (or a microbiome). You can probably imagine that a bra comes into very close contact with your body and is thus a rich source of bacteria. In case of ‘disruption’ of the breast microbiome (due to touches, kissing, or biting by another person), the microbiome of the bra can also change. This would mean that, thanks to the victim’s bra, we can determine exactly what happened.
Cutting bras for science
First, we need to identify which bacteria are standard on the breasts and bras. This way, we can hopefully detect any disruptions more easily later on. But how do we start? Well, we asked various women to wear a specific bra for several days and take swabs from their breast skin and nipples. The swabs were then analysed in the Isala lab to get a good idea of the bacteria that are normally present, or in other words: we outlined the ‘background’ under normal conditions.
Next, the microbial composition of the bra is compared to that of the nipple and breast. This allowed us to estimate which bacteria were transferred from breast to bra, and from bra to breast. Additionally, the difference in microbiome between the bras donated by different woman was analysed.
Sexual violence, a problem that prevails
Sexual violence remains a very big problem in our society. According to the most recent figures from the CCSV, an average of 131 victims report per month. However, this figure falls short of reflecting the actual prevalence of sexual violence, as up to 90% of rapes are not reported. Feelings of shame, guilt, and a lack of trust in the legal system are among the main reasons why victims choose not to report the crime. This mistrust is fueled by the low prosecution rate, with 53% of all rape cases in Belgium being dismissed.
But why are so many cases dismissed? Among other things, this has to do with the low availability of reliable evidence. In many cases, it comes down to a ‘he said, she said’ story due to a lack of evidence. This huge gap is what the Isala team tries to fill in the GeneDoe project. You may recognize the Isala subproject from previous blogs, but we’ll gladly give you a brief summary!
The GeneDoe Project
GeneDoe is the forensic subproject of Isala, founded by Sarah Ahannach during her PhD. Its main mission is to address the dark number of unreported rapes. How? By using various scientific techniques. Traditional methods for DNA and fingerprint identification fall short in providing reliable evidence. In the GeneDoe project, we use state-of-the-art microbiome analyses as a complement to existing evidence.
By using ‘mock-crime scenes’, we simulate conditions that may occur in a case of sexual violence in a controlled manner. This way, we collect samples from a simulated crime to test our hypotheses. In a previous study, for example, we asked volunteers to have sex with their partners, after which they provided us with vaginal swabs for further research. Microbiome profiles were established to examine whether we could detect differences in the microbiome before and after sexual contact. In general, the more samples we can collect from different people and body locations, the better we can make accurate predictions. This is because there is a lot of variation between individuals and circumstances.
In short: with improved forensic techniques, we strive for justice for victims of sexual violence and a safer society. Thanks to science and innovation, we want to address this societal problem and create a world of justice and safety.
What do we hope to achieve?
Collecting evidence in cases of sexual violence is difficult and often very intrusive for the victim in question. By using clothing items, such as bras, to collect samples, we could present additional evidence that sheds light on the activities that took place. Thus, we hope in the future to be able to assist many women who have been victims of sexual violence, which still happens far too often. How great would it be if we could support them in this way! ๐
Who am I?
Hi there! I’m Sarah Van den Bosch, a master’s student in Bioengineering at Ghent University. During my bachelor’s thesis at Isala, I discovered my fascination for research on women’s health and microbiology. I was fortunate to have Dr. Sarah Ahannach, the founder of the GeneDoe project, as one of my supervisors. Sarah introduced me to groundbreaking research on the use of microbiology in rape cases. From that moment on, I was hooked.
My goal is simple yet powerful: I want to contribute to a world where women who have been victims of sexual violence receive the support and justice they deserve. My master’s thesis is a step in that direction. I hope that our results not only help individuals but also serve as a source of knowledge and inspiration for future students and researchers. Together, we can discover more insights and make a greater impact.
Let’s strive for a world of progress, justice and empowerment!