Profiling of exhaled volatile organics in the screening scenario of a COVID-19 test center
Rasmus Remy,
Nele Kemnitz,
Phillip Trefz,
Patricia Fuchs,
Julia Bartels,
Ann-Christin Klemenz,
Leo Rührmund,
Pritam Sukul,
Wolfram Miekisch,
Jochen K. Schubert
Affiliations
Rasmus Remy
Rostock Medical Breath Research Analytics and Technologies (ROMBAT), Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, University Medicine Rostock, 18057 Rostock, Germany
Nele Kemnitz
Rostock Medical Breath Research Analytics and Technologies (ROMBAT), Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, University Medicine Rostock, 18057 Rostock, Germany
Phillip Trefz
Rostock Medical Breath Research Analytics and Technologies (ROMBAT), Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, University Medicine Rostock, 18057 Rostock, Germany
Patricia Fuchs
Rostock Medical Breath Research Analytics and Technologies (ROMBAT), Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, University Medicine Rostock, 18057 Rostock, Germany
Julia Bartels
Rostock Medical Breath Research Analytics and Technologies (ROMBAT), Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, University Medicine Rostock, 18057 Rostock, Germany
Ann-Christin Klemenz
Rostock Medical Breath Research Analytics and Technologies (ROMBAT), Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, University Medicine Rostock, 18057 Rostock, Germany
Leo Rührmund
Rostock Medical Breath Research Analytics and Technologies (ROMBAT), Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, University Medicine Rostock, 18057 Rostock, Germany
Pritam Sukul
Rostock Medical Breath Research Analytics and Technologies (ROMBAT), Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, University Medicine Rostock, 18057 Rostock, Germany; Corresponding author
Wolfram Miekisch
Rostock Medical Breath Research Analytics and Technologies (ROMBAT), Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, University Medicine Rostock, 18057 Rostock, Germany
Jochen K. Schubert
Rostock Medical Breath Research Analytics and Technologies (ROMBAT), Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, University Medicine Rostock, 18057 Rostock, Germany
Summary: Breath volatile organics (VOCs) may provide immediate information on infection mechanisms and host response. We conducted real-time mass spectrometry-based breath profiling in 708 non-preselected consecutive subjects in the screening scenario of a COVID-19 test center. Recruited subjects were grouped based on PCR-confirmed infection status and presence or absence of flu-like symptoms. Exhaled VOC profiles of SARS-CoV-2-positive cases (n = 36) differed from healthy (n = 256) and those with other respiratory infections (n = 416). Concentrations of most VOCs were suppressed in COVID-19. VOC concentrations also differed between symptomatic and asymptomatic cases. Breath markers mirror effects of infections onto host’s cellular metabolism and microbiome. Downregulation of specific VOCs was attributed to suppressive effects of SARS-CoV-2 onto gut or pulmonary microbial metabolism. Breath analysis holds potential for monitoring SARS-CoV-2 infections rather than for primary diagnosis. Breath profiling offers unconventional insight into host-virus cross-talk and infection microbiology and enables non-invasive assessment of disease manifestation.
