title: 2-methylbutanal, a volatile biomarker, for non-invasive surveillance of Proteus.
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.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Biotechnology, Anna University, Sardar Patel Road, Guindy, Chennai, 600 025, India.
authors.forename: Raju
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Aarthi
authors.forename: Raju
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Saranya
authors.forename: Krishnan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sankaran
mesh_terms: D000447:Aldehydes / Q000032:analysis*; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D003619:Dansyl Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005453:Fluorescence; D006834:Hydrazines / Q000378:metabolism; D011511:Proteus / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000447:Aldehydes; D015415:Biomarkers; D003619:Dansyl Compounds; D006834:Hydrazines; C451039:dansylhydrazine-5-(dimethylamino)naphthalene-1-sulphonehydrazine; C547093:2-methylbutanal