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2-methylbutanal, a volatile biomarker, for non-invasive surveillance of Proteus

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Abstract

Pathogen detection needs a paradigm shift from time-consuming conventional microbiological and biochemical tests to much simpler identification methods with higher sensitivity and specificity. In this regard, a simple detection method for frequently isolated nosocomial uropathogen, Proteus spp., was developed using the characteristic volatile 2-methylbutanal released in Luria Bertani broth. The instant reaction of the compound with 5-dimethylaminonaphthalene-1-sulfonylhydrazine (DNSH) has been adapted to develop a sensitive fluorescence assay named “ProteAl” (Prote, “Proteus” & Al, “Aldehyde”). The assay was performed by direct addition of the fluorescence reagent to the culture after 7 h of growth. The distinct green fluorescence by Proteus (other organisms show orange fluorescence) served as the simplest and quicker identification test available for Proteus. In the laboratory, it exhibited 100 % specificity and 100 % sensitivity during testing of 95 strains including standard and known clinical isolates representing frequently encountered uropathogens.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Mr. Suresh Lingham, M/s Trivitron Pvt Ltd. for clinical samples, Dr. Sridhar, Dept. of Microbiology, Sri Ramachandra University, for providing standard bacterial cultures; Dr. Mathiyarasu and Sankararao, CECRI, Karaikudi, Dr. T. Sivakumar, Prof. B. Sivasankar, and B. Palanisamy, Anna University, and Prof. Mohanakrishnan, University of Madras, for analysis and analytical data. We acknowledge the financial support from Centre with Potential for Excellence in Environmental Science (CPEES) of University Grants Commission. Our deepest gratitude to our family and friends.

Author disclosure statement

There is no conflict of interests among the authors for submitting this article. This work was supported by the Centre with Potential for Excellence in Environmental Science (CPEES) of University Grants Commission, India. They have no involvements in the study design, in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; in the writing of the article; and in the decision to submit the article for publication.

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  1. Centre for Biotechnology, Anna University, Sardar Patel Road, Guindy, Chennai, 600 025, India

    Raju Aarthi, Raju Saranya & Krishnan Sankaran

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  1. Raju Aarthi
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  2. Raju Saranya
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  3. Krishnan Sankaran
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Correspondence to Krishnan Sankaran.

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Aarthi, R., Saranya, R. & Sankaran, K. 2-methylbutanal, a volatile biomarker, for non-invasive surveillance of Proteus . Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 98, 445–454 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-013-5393-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-013-5393-9

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