title: Honeybees Apis mellifera can detect the scent of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
abstract: The proboscis extension reflex in honeybees was evaluated for detection of tuberculosis. Restrained bees were tested with methyl phenylacetate, methyl p-anisate, and methyl nicotinate, previously identified from Mycobacterium tuberculosis cultures, to determine honeybee capacity for signature volatile detection. Methyl p-anisate and methyl phenylacetate were detectable over eight orders of magnitude, and honeybees showed proboscis extension response down to 0.1 pg loading of methyl p-anisate on filter paper. Potential exists for trained honeybees in non-invasive diagnostic tests for TB.
authors.affiliation: The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, PB 4704, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand. max.suckling@plantandfood.co.nz
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Suckling
authors.forename: Rachael L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Sagar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001516:Bees; D001565:Benzoates; D003214:Conditioning, Classical; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000737:chemistry*; D009539:Nicotinic Acids; D009812:Odorants; D010648:Phenylacetates; D012903:Smell; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001565:Benzoates; D009539:Nicotinic Acids; D010648:Phenylacetates; C539391:methyl 4-anisate; C008473:methyl nicotinate; C024906:methyl phenylacetate