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Mass spectral studies on the human skin surface for mosquito vector control applications
Madelien Wooding1, Tyren Dodgen2, Egmont R Rohwer1
1Department of Chemistry, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
Journal of Mass Spectrometry : JMS
|January 19, 2021
Summary
Mosquito host-seeking behavior is influenced by human skin
Area of Science:
- Analytical Chemistry
- Chemical Ecology
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- Mosquitoes use complex human skin chemical cues for host selection.
- Inter- and intra-human variations in skin chemistry influence mosquito preference.
- Advanced analytical methods are needed to identify mosquito attractants/repellents.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate differences in skin chemical profiles related to mosquito attractiveness.
- Compare skin chemistry between different human body regions (ankle vs. wrist).
- Identify biomarkers for mosquito vector control strategies.
Main Methods:
- Utilized polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) samplers for non-intrusive skin sampling.
- Employed ultra-performance liquid chromatography with ion mobility-high resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-IMS-HRMS).
- Applied statistical analysis to identify differentiating biomarkers.
Main Results:
- Identified 14 biomarkers associated with perceived mosquito attractiveness.
- Detected 20 biomarkers specific to different skin regions (ankle vs. wrist).
- Reported 77 novel compounds on human skin, including caffeine for the first time.
Conclusions:
- Comprehensive human skin chemical profiling is achievable with UPLC-IMS-HRMS.
- Identified numerous novel skin compounds and potential biomarkers.
- Findings support the development of targeted mosquito control programs.
