title: Identification of a Large Pool of Microorganisms with an Array of Porphyrin Based Gas Sensors.
abstract: The association between volatile compounds (VCs) and microorganisms, as demonstrated by several studies, may offer the ground for a rapid identification of pathogens. To this regard, chemical sensors are a key enabling technology for the exploitation of this opportunity. In this study, we investigated the performance of an array of porphyrin-coated quartz microbalance gas sensors in the identification of a panel of 12 bacteria and fungi. The porphyrins were metal complexes and the free base of a functionalized tetraphenylporphyrin. Our results show that the sensor array distinguishes the VC patterns produced by microorganisms in vitro. Besides being individually identified, bacteria are also sorted into Gram-positive and Gram-negative.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. zetolan@gmail.com.|School of Medicine, University of Botswana, Private Bag, Gaborone 0022, Botswana. zetolan@gmail.com.|Botswana-University of Pennsylvania Partnership, P.O. Box AC 157 ACH, Gaborone 0022, Botswana. zetolan@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Nicola M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Zetola
authors.affiliation: Botswana-University of Pennsylvania Partnership, P.O. Box AC 157 ACH, Gaborone 0022, Botswana. ntungwana@yahoo.co.uk.
authors.forename: Chawangwa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Modongo
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Botswana, Private Bag, Gaborone 0022, Botswana. matlhagelak@mopipi.ub.bw.
authors.forename: Keikantse
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mathlagela
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Botswana, Private Bag, Gaborone 0022, Botswana. enoch.sepako@mopipi.ub.bw.
authors.forename: Enoch
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sepako
authors.affiliation: Botswana-University of Pennsylvania Partnership, P.O. Box AC 157 ACH, Gaborone 0022, Botswana. ogopotsem@bup.org.bw.
authors.forename: Ogopotse
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Matsiri
authors.affiliation: Botswana-University of Pennsylvania Partnership, P.O. Box AC 157 ACH, Gaborone 0022, Botswana. tsaone.tamuhla@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Tsaone
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tamuhla
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Science, University of Botswana, Private Bag, Gaborone 0022, Botswana. mbongwe@mopipi.ub.bw.
authors.forename: Bontle
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mbongwe
authors.affiliation: Department of Electronic Engineering, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Politecnico 1, Roma 00133, Italy. martinelli@ing.uniroma2.it.
authors.forename: Eugenio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Martinelli
authors.affiliation: Centro di Ricerca, Ospedale San Pietro Fatebenefratelli, Via Cassia 600, Roma 00189, Italy. gsirugo@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sirugo
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Science and Technology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica, Roma 00133, Italy. roberto.paolesse@uniroma2.it.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Paolesse
authors.affiliation: Department of Electronic Engineering, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Politecnico 1, Roma 00133, Italy. dinatale@uniroma2.it.
authors.forename: Corrado
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Di Natale
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005658:Fungi / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005740:Gases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000737:chemistry; D058525:Quartz Crystal Microbalance Techniques / Q000379:methods; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D005740:Gases; D011166:Porphyrins; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds
keywords: microorganisms; porphyrins; quartz microbalance; volatile compounds