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First Step on the Way to Identify Dermatophytes Using Odour Fingerprints
Lenka Machová1,2, Meriem Gaida3, Jaroslav Semerád4
1Laboratory of Fungal Genetics and Metabolism, Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic.
Mycopathologia
|January 8, 2025
Summary
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) show promise for diagnosing fungal skin infections. This study identified unique VOC profiles for different dermatophyte species, enabling potential rapid, non-invasive diagnostic tools.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Analytical Chemistry
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Clinical diagnosis of dermatophytosis relies on slow culture-based methods.
- Rapid detection of microorganisms using volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is limited for dermatophytes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the potential of VOCs as diagnostic markers for dermatophytes.
- To analyze and differentiate VOC profiles of various dermatophyte taxa.
- To correlate VOC production with phylogenetic relationships.
Main Methods:
- Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) for sample collection.
- Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and comprehensive two-dimensional GC-TOFMS for VOC analysis.
- Analysis of 47 dermatophyte strains from 15 taxa grown on sheep wool.
Main Results:
- GC×GC-TOFMS provided higher resolution but similar differentiation to GC-MS.
- Distinct VOC profiles were identified for taxonomic units at the species level and below.
- VOC distinctions showed a weak correlation with phylogenetic data.
- Pan-dermatophyte and species/strain-specific VOC profiles were detected.
Conclusions:
- VOC profiles can reliably distinguish dermatophyte taxa.
- Identified VOC patterns offer potential for rapid, non-invasive diagnosis of dermatophyte infections.
- VOCs can serve as valuable tools for dermatophyte taxonomy and diagnostics.
