A breath of information: the volatilome

Abstract

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are small molecular mass substances, which exhibit low boiling points and high-vapour pressures. They are ubiquitous in nature and produced by almost any organism of all kingdoms of life. VOCs are involved in many inter- and intraspecies interactions ranging from antimicrobial or fungal effects to plant growth promotion and human taste perception of fermentation products. VOC profiles further reflect the metabolic or phenotypic state of the living organism that produces them. Hence, they can be exploited for non-invasive medicinal diagnoses or industrial fermentation control. Here, we introduce the reader to these diverse applications associated with the monitoring and analysis of VOC emissions. We also present our vision of real-time VOC analysis enabled by newly developed analytical techniques, which will further broaden the use of VOCs in even wider applications. Hence, we foresee a bright future for VOC research and its associated fields of applications.

Volatolomics approach by HS‐SPME‐GC‐MS and multivariate analysis to discriminate olive tree varieties infected by Xylella fastidiosa

“…Several authors have extensively studied the hydrocarbon fraction of olive oils and its possible usefulness for their characterisation and for the identification of their origins, 44 Concerning terpene derivates, it is well know that most plants release these low-molecular weight compounds (e.g. isoprene, monoterpenes, and sesquiterpenes) during abiotic stresses, (light and/or temperature changes, flooding, droughts), 45 but, according to other authors, 46,47 these compounds are also emitted by the host plant, since they show an antibacterial activity, with contents that depend on the cultivar/pathogen interaction. 48 In fact, CdN samples showed a higher amount of these compounds compared to OGL.…”

Volatile Organic Compound Based Probe for Induced Volatolomics of Cancers

“…Volatolomics, the study of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by living systems, is an emerging field of research that offers promise for exploring biological processes in real‐time . Within this framework, analysis of VOCs in exhaled breath samples has been investigated for cancer diagnosis and patient stratification for personalised anticancer therapy .…”

L’haleine et les capteurs d’odeurs

“…Depuis plus de 10 ans, de nombreuses études sont menées afin d'aboutir au développement et à la commercialisation de nez électroniques dans le domaine de la détection de pathologies, en particulier par analyse de l'haleine [3]. Plusieurs équipes cherchent également à identifier les COV liés aux pathologies et aux altérations des voies métaboliques, et donc, le mécanisme reliant une observation physiopathologique à un biomarqueur exhalé prédictif spécifique [13]. La présence de ces COV à l'état de traces (10 -9 M à 10 -12 M) dans les échantillons provenant des patients nécessite des sensibilités que des nez électroniques peuvent atteindre.…”