Biomedically important pathogenic fungi detection with volatile biomarkers

Area of Science:

• Mycology
• Biochemistry
• Pulmonary Medicine

Background:

• Aspergillus fumigatus is a pathogenic fungus causing significant respiratory diseases.
• Fungal volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are increasingly recognized for their diagnostic potential.
• Elastin, a key lung tissue protein, has not been extensively studied as a growth substrate for A. fumigatus VOC analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and characterize volatile chemical profiles produced by Aspergillus fumigatus.
• To investigate the production of sesquiterpenes, specifically farnesene, by A. fumigatus.
• To assess the presence of farnesene in a human lung cell model infected with A. fumigatus.

Main Methods:

• Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of headspace volatiles from A. fumigatus cultured on elastin-containing media.
• Detection of farnesene and related sesquiterpenes.
• Analysis of volatiles from human lung cells infected with A. fumigatus.
• Comparison with volatile profiles of Epicoccum nigrum from clinical samples.

Main Results:

• A. fumigatus grown on elastin produced abundant farnesene and other sesquiterpenes like bisabolene.
• Farnesene was detected in a human lung cell model infected with A. fumigatus.
• Volatile profiles of A. fumigatus and E. nigrum differed significantly, with E. nigrum lacking sesquiterpenes.

Conclusions:

• Farnesene is a major volatile metabolite produced by A. fumigatus, particularly when grown on lung-associated protein elastin.
• The detection of farnesene in an in vitro lung model supports its potential as a biomarker for A. fumigatus infections.
• Distinct volatile profiles of fungal pathogens like A. fumigatus and E. nigrum may aid in differential diagnosis.