Investigation of volatile organic biomarkers derived from <it>Plasmodium falciparum in vitro</it>
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>There remains a need for techniques that improve the sensitive detection of viable <it>Plasmodium falciparum</it> as part of diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring in clinical studies and usual-care management of malaria in...
Main Authors: | , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
BMC
2012-09-01
|
Series: | Malaria Journal |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://www.malariajournal.com/content/11/1/314 |
id |
doaj-53764790b0104f3ca96cad5d3bd479fb |
---|---|
record_format |
Article |
spelling |
doaj-53764790b0104f3ca96cad5d3bd479fb2020-11-24T20:59:25ZengBMCMalaria Journal1475-28752012-09-0111131410.1186/1475-2875-11-314Investigation of volatile organic biomarkers derived from <it>Plasmodium falciparum in vitro</it>Wong Rina PMFlematti Gavin RDavis Timothy ME<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>There remains a need for techniques that improve the sensitive detection of viable <it>Plasmodium falciparum</it> as part of diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring in clinical studies and usual-care management of malaria infections. A non-invasive breath test based on <it>P. falciparum-</it>associated specific volatile organic compounds (VOCs) could fill this gap and provide insights into parasite metabolism and pathogenicity. The aim of this study was to determine whether VOCs are present in the headspace above <it>in vitro P. falciparum</it> cultures.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A novel, custom-designed apparatus was developed to enable efficient headspace sampling of infected and non-infected cultures. Conditions were optimized to support cultures of high parasitaemia (>20%) to improve the potential detection of parasite-specific VOCs. A number of techniques for VOC analysis were investigated including solid phase micro-extraction using two different polarity fibres, and purge and trap/thermal desorption, each coupled to gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Each experiment and analysis method was performed at least on two occasions. VOCs were identified by comparing their mass spectra against commercial mass spectral libraries.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>No unique malarial-specific VOCs could be detected relative to those in the control red blood cell cultures. This could reflect sequestration of VOCs into cell membranes and/or culture media but solvent extractions of supernatants and cell lysates using hexane, dichloromethane and ethyl acetate also showed no obvious difference compared to control non-parasitized cultures.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Future <it>in vivo</it> studies analysing the breath of patients with severe malaria who are harbouring a parasite biomass that is significantly greater than achievable <it>in vitro</it> may yet reveal specific clinically-useful volatile chemical biomarkers.</p> http://www.malariajournal.com/content/11/1/314Malaria<it>Plasmodium falciparum</it>Volatile organic compoundsSolid phase micro-extractionOrganic biomarkers |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Wong Rina PM Flematti Gavin R Davis Timothy ME |
spellingShingle |
Wong Rina PM Flematti Gavin R Davis Timothy ME Investigation of volatile organic biomarkers derived from <it>Plasmodium falciparum in vitro</it> Malaria Journal Malaria <it>Plasmodium falciparum</it> Volatile organic compounds Solid phase micro-extraction Organic biomarkers |
author_facet |
Wong Rina PM Flematti Gavin R Davis Timothy ME |
author_sort |
Wong Rina PM |
title |
Investigation of volatile organic biomarkers derived from <it>Plasmodium falciparum in vitro</it> |
title_short |
Investigation of volatile organic biomarkers derived from <it>Plasmodium falciparum in vitro</it> |
title_full |
Investigation of volatile organic biomarkers derived from <it>Plasmodium falciparum in vitro</it> |
title_fullStr |
Investigation of volatile organic biomarkers derived from <it>Plasmodium falciparum in vitro</it> |
title_full_unstemmed |
Investigation of volatile organic biomarkers derived from <it>Plasmodium falciparum in vitro</it> |
title_sort |
investigation of volatile organic biomarkers derived from <it>plasmodium falciparum in vitro</it> |
publisher |
BMC |
series |
Malaria Journal |
issn |
1475-2875 |
publishDate |
2012-09-01 |
description |
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>There remains a need for techniques that improve the sensitive detection of viable <it>Plasmodium falciparum</it> as part of diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring in clinical studies and usual-care management of malaria infections. A non-invasive breath test based on <it>P. falciparum-</it>associated specific volatile organic compounds (VOCs) could fill this gap and provide insights into parasite metabolism and pathogenicity. The aim of this study was to determine whether VOCs are present in the headspace above <it>in vitro P. falciparum</it> cultures.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A novel, custom-designed apparatus was developed to enable efficient headspace sampling of infected and non-infected cultures. Conditions were optimized to support cultures of high parasitaemia (>20%) to improve the potential detection of parasite-specific VOCs. A number of techniques for VOC analysis were investigated including solid phase micro-extraction using two different polarity fibres, and purge and trap/thermal desorption, each coupled to gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Each experiment and analysis method was performed at least on two occasions. VOCs were identified by comparing their mass spectra against commercial mass spectral libraries.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>No unique malarial-specific VOCs could be detected relative to those in the control red blood cell cultures. This could reflect sequestration of VOCs into cell membranes and/or culture media but solvent extractions of supernatants and cell lysates using hexane, dichloromethane and ethyl acetate also showed no obvious difference compared to control non-parasitized cultures.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Future <it>in vivo</it> studies analysing the breath of patients with severe malaria who are harbouring a parasite biomass that is significantly greater than achievable <it>in vitro</it> may yet reveal specific clinically-useful volatile chemical biomarkers.</p> |
topic |
Malaria <it>Plasmodium falciparum</it> Volatile organic compounds Solid phase micro-extraction Organic biomarkers |
url |
http://www.malariajournal.com/content/11/1/314 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT wongrinapm investigationofvolatileorganicbiomarkersderivedfromitplasmodiumfalciparuminvitroit AT flemattigavinr investigationofvolatileorganicbiomarkersderivedfromitplasmodiumfalciparuminvitroit AT davistimothyme investigationofvolatileorganicbiomarkersderivedfromitplasmodiumfalciparuminvitroit |
_version_ |
1716782441842081792 |