title: Development of Untargeted Metabolomics Methods for the Rapid Detection of Pathogenic Naegleria fowleri.
abstract: Despite comparatively low levels of infection, primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) induced by Naegleria fowleri is extremely lethal, with mortality rates above 95%. As a thermophile, this organism is often found in moderate-to-warm climates and has the potential to colonize drinking water distribution systems (DWDSs). Current detection approaches require days to obtain results, whereas swift corrective action can maximize the benefit of public health. Presently, there is little information regarding the underlying in situ metabolism for this amoeba but the potential exists to exploit differentially expressed metabolic signatures as a rapid detection technique. This research outlines the biochemical profiles of selected pathogenic and nonpathogenic Naegleria in vitro using an untargeted metabolomics approach to identify a panel of diagnostically meaningful compounds that may enable rapid detection of viable pathogenic N. fowleri and augment results from traditional monitoring approaches.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Washington State University , P.O. Box 644630, Pullman, Washington 99164, United States.
authors.forename: Zhihao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: CSIRO Land and Water, Centre for Environment and Life Sciences , Private Bag No. 5, Wembley, Western Australia 6913, Australia.
authors.forename: Haylea C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: CSIRO Land and Water, Centre for Environment and Life Sciences , Private Bag No. 5, Wembley, Western Australia 6913, Australia.
authors.forename: Geoffrey J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Puzon
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Washington State University , P.O. Box 644630, Pullman, Washington 99164, United States.
authors.forename: Brian H
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5809-9379
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Clowers
mesh_terms: D000656:Amoeba; D020808:Central Nervous System Protozoal Infections; D060766:Drinking Water; D055432:Metabolomics; D016848:Naegleria fowleri
chemical_list: D060766:Drinking Water