{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,13]],"date-time":"2026-02-13T20:12:22Z","timestamp":1771013542105,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":21,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,19]],"date-time":"2025-02-19T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1739923200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Ricerca Scientifica di Ateneo\u2014Marche Polytechnic University"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Genes"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background\/Objectives: The study of DNA transfer and persistence has become increasingly significant, driven by advancements in DNA detection sensitivity and the need for reliable forensic evidence. In forensic investigations, saliva and saliva-stained materials are recognised as valuable DNA sources, particularly in cases of homicide, sexual assault, and burglary, where saliva can be transferred between individuals during the criminal act. The time between the crime and sample collection is a critical factor that can influence the success of the analysis. The value of the specimens collected from the victim\u2019s skin or mouth (perilabial and labial sites, teeth and tongue) after the crime has not been investigated with currently used highly sensitive and specific molecular methods. Methods: On the assumption that a significant loss of DNA occurred, in our study, 10 voluntary pairs were tested at different time points after intense kissing and samples were taken from the above-mentioned sites to assess the presence of the donor\u2019s DNA. Extracted DNA was quantified using the Plexor HY System kit (Promega), and both autosomal STRs and Y-STRs were analysed. Results: The results reveal a greater persistence of male DNA on the female partner, particularly in the labial and perilabial regions, even up to 120 min after contact, in terms of both concentration and duration. Conclusions: This study emphasises the forensic importance of salivary DNA as a solid source of evidence, particularly in investigations involving mixed DNA profiles.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/genes16020232","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,19]],"date-time":"2025-02-19T05:34:26Z","timestamp":1739943266000},"page":"232","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["The Survival of the Kiss: Presence and Persistence of Salivary Male DNA in Mixed Samples"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"16","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5721-0912","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mauro","family":"Pesaresi","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Section of Legal Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Marche Polytechnic University, 60126 Ancona, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9066-0616","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Federica","family":"Alessandrini","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Section of Legal Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Marche Polytechnic University, 60126 Ancona, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Elena","family":"Bignozzi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Section of Legal Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Marche Polytechnic University, 60126 Ancona, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Alessia","family":"Bernini Di Michele","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Section of Legal Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Marche Polytechnic University, 60126 Ancona, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Filomena","family":"Melchionda","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Section of Legal Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Marche Polytechnic University, 60126 Ancona, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6943-0602","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Rosaria","family":"Gesuita","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Center of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Medical Information Technology, Marche Polytechnic University, 60126 Ancona, Italy"},{"name":"IRCCS INRCA, 60127 Ancona, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Valerio","family":"Onofri","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Legal Medicine Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria delle Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9211-810X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Chiara","family":"Turchi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Section of Legal Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Marche Polytechnic University, 60126 Ancona, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,19]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"162","DOI":"10.1067\/mpr.2001.113778","article-title":"A Review of Saliva: Normal Composition, Flow, and Function","volume":"85","author":"Humphrey","year":"2001","journal-title":"J. Prosthet. Dent."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"96","DOI":"10.1038\/sj.bdj.4807284","article-title":"Saliva and Dental Health. Clinical Implications of Saliva: Report of a Consensus Meeting","volume":"169","author":"Edgar","year":"1990","journal-title":"Br. Dent. J."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"170","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1556-4029.2010.01520.x","article-title":"The Recovery and Persistence of Salivary DNA on Human Skin","volume":"56","author":"Kenna","year":"2010","journal-title":"J. Forensic Sci."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"17","DOI":"10.1186\/s41935-023-00336-3","article-title":"Recent Advancements in Identification and Detection of Saliva as Forensic Evidence: A Review","volume":"13","author":"Upadhyay","year":"2023","journal-title":"Egypt. J. Forensic Sci."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kar, A.K., Patel, R., and Debnath, A. (2024). Introduction to Saliva and Its Forensic Analysis, Springer Nature.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-981-99-3161-3_8"},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"447","DOI":"10.1520\/JFS14146J","article-title":"PCR-Based DNA Typing of Saliva Stains Recovered from Human Skin","volume":"42","author":"Sweet","year":"1997","journal-title":"J. Forensic Sci."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"124","DOI":"10.1016\/j.fsigen.2012.07.007","article-title":"Prevalence and Persistence of Male DNA Identified in Mixed Saliva Samples after Intense Kissing","volume":"7","author":"Celec","year":"2013","journal-title":"Forensic Sci. Int. Genet."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"140","DOI":"10.1016\/j.fsigen.2018.10.014","article-title":"DNA transfer in forensic science: A review","volume":"38","author":"Szkuta","year":"2019","journal-title":"Forensic Sci. Int. Genet."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"284","DOI":"10.1007\/s004140050172","article-title":"Potential DNA Mixtures Introduced through Kissing","volume":"111","author":"Banaschak","year":"1998","journal-title":"Int. J. Leg. Med."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"216","DOI":"10.1590\/S1806-83242005000300011","article-title":"DNA extraction from human saliva deposited on skin and its use in forensic identification procedures","volume":"19","author":"Hirata","year":"2005","journal-title":"Braz. Oral Res."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1074","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1556-4029.2008.00800.x","article-title":"Investigation into Normal Background DNA on Adult Necks: Implications for DNA Profiling of Manual Strangulation Victims","volume":"53","author":"Graham","year":"2008","journal-title":"J. Forensic Sci."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"961","DOI":"10.1007\/s00414-011-0616-z","article-title":"Effects of Humic Acid on DNA Quantification with Quantifiler\u00ae Human DNA Quantification Kit and Short Tandem Repeat Amplification Efficiency","volume":"126","author":"Seo","year":"2011","journal-title":"Int. J. Leg. Med."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"55","DOI":"10.1016\/S0379-0738(97)00175-8","article-title":"Analysis and Interpretation of Mixed Forensic Stains Using DNA STR Profiling","volume":"91","author":"Clayton","year":"1998","journal-title":"Forensic Sci. Int."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"77","DOI":"10.1007\/s12024-009-9089-5","article-title":"Y Chromosome STR Typing in Crime Casework","volume":"5","author":"Roewer","year":"2009","journal-title":"Forensic Sci. Med. Pathol."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"125","DOI":"10.1007\/s004140050051","article-title":"Evaluation of Y-Chromosomal STRs: A Multicenter Study","volume":"110","author":"Kayser","year":"1997","journal-title":"Int. J. Leg. Med."},{"key":"ref_16","unstructured":"Promega (2024, December 09). DNA IQ\u2122 Casework Pro Kit for Maxwell\u00ae 16; Technical Manual TM332, Revised 12\/16. Available online: https:\/\/ita.promega.com\/-\/media\/files\/resources\/protocols\/technical-manuals\/101\/dna-iq-casework-pro-kit-for-maxwell-16-protocol.pdf?rev=fde31f63a4114dc5b9088112ab8cddeb&sc_lang=en."},{"key":"ref_17","unstructured":"Promega (2024, December 09). Plexor\u00ae HY System for Applied Biosystems 7500 and 7500 Fast Real-Time PCR Systems, Technical Manual TM293, Revised 9\/17. Available online: https:\/\/ita.promega.com\/-\/media\/files\/resources\/protocols\/technical-manuals\/0\/plexor-hy-system-for-the-applied-biosystems-7500-and-7500-fast-real-time-pcr-systems-protocol.pdf?rev=ee860374bdb944e18c1e41ef075600ba&sc_lang=en."},{"key":"ref_18","unstructured":"Promega (2024, December 09). PowerPlex\u00ae ESI 17 Fast System for Use on the Applied Biosystems\u00ae Genetic Analyzers; Technical Manual TMD041, Revised 2\/21. Available online: https:\/\/ita.promega.com\/en\/products\/forensic-dna-analysis-ce\/str-amplification\/powerplex-esx-17-and-esi-17-fast-systems\/?catNum=DC1710."},{"key":"ref_19","unstructured":"Applied Biosystems by Life Technologies (2024, December 09). AmpFlSTR Yfiler PCR Amplification; User Guide (Pub. no. 4358101). Available online: https:\/\/assets.thermofisher.com\/TFS-Assets\/LSG\/manuals\/4358101_AmpflstrYfilerKit_UG.pdf."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ekstr\u00f6m, J., Khosravani, N., Castagnola, M., and Messana, I. (2011). Saliva and the Control of Its Secretion. Medical Radiology, Springer.","DOI":"10.1007\/174_2011_481"},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1055","DOI":"10.1016\/j.archoralbio.2006.06.010","article-title":"Gender Difference in Unstimulated Whole Saliva Flow Rate and Salivary Gland Sizes","volume":"51","author":"Inoue","year":"2006","journal-title":"Arch. Oral Biol."}],"container-title":["Genes"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2073-4425\/16\/2\/232\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,9]],"date-time":"2025-10-09T16:37:49Z","timestamp":1760027869000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2073-4425\/16\/2\/232"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,19]]},"references-count":21,"journal-issue":{"issue":"2","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,2]]}},"alternative-id":["genes16020232"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/genes16020232","relation":{},"ISSN":["2073-4425"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2073-4425","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,19]]}}}