Analysis of volatile bacterial metabolites by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A method for the identification of key volatile organic compound (VOC) markers associated with infection by the Gram-negative bacteria Neisseria meningitidis (N. meningitidis) using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was investigated. It was observed that the N. meningitidis bacteria produced five unique peaks occurring at retention times 1.93, 2.15, 2.22, 2.56, and 3.02 min. The key VOC markers for Neisseria meningitidis were identified as 1,2-dimethylcyclopropane, 2-methylpropanal, methacrolein, N-2 dimethyl-1-propanamine, and 3-methylbutanal by the NIST database. It was found that many of the VOCs detected were hydrocarbons, alcohols, ketones, and aldehydes.