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A Miniaturized Glycan Microarray Assay for Assessing Avidity and Specificity of Influenza A Virus Hemagglutinins
Published on: May 29, 2016
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Avian Influenza Virus Strain Specificity in the Volatile Metabolome
Young Eun Lee1, Richard A Bowen2, Bruce A Kimball1
1Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Metabolites
|July 25, 2025
Summary
Avian influenza virus (AIV) infection alters bird volatile metabolome profiles in a strain-specific manner. These findings highlight the importance of disease-specific profiling for developing accurate diagnostics for AIV surveillance.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Virology
- Metabolomics
- Disease Diagnostics
Background:
- Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (AIV) outbreaks cause significant economic losses and bird mortality.
- Early detection and surveillance are crucial for controlling AIV spread and preventing human spillover.
- The volatile metabolome offers a potential source of health information for disease diagnosis, similar to how dogs detect disease-associated odors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the specificity of volatile metabolome alterations in response to avian influenza virus (AIV) infection.
- To determine if different AIV strains induce distinct changes in the volatile metabolome.
- To assess the potential for volatile metabolome analysis in AIV diagnostics.
Main Methods:
- Twenty mallard ducks were experimentally infected with one of two low-pathogenic AIV strains (ten ducks per strain).
- Cloacal swabs were collected at multiple time points before and after infection.
- Headspace analyses were performed to identify and quantify volatile metabolites.
Main Results:
- Four volatile compounds showed significant alterations following AIV infection.
- Distinct volatile profiles were observed for each AIV strain.
- Specifically altered volatiles included ethylbenzyl ether, 2-phenoxyethanol, 2-hydroxybenzaldehyde, and 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one.
Conclusions:
- Avian influenza virus (AIV)-induced changes in the volatile metabolome are strain-specific.
- This strain specificity necessitates the development of disease-specific profiling for diagnostic tools.
- Volatile metabolome analysis shows promise for targeted AIV diagnostics.
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