Work

Sweat-prints of COVID-19: unique metabolite signatures

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: AIM: The study of human sweat and its metabolite profile can reveal important metabolic processes. Metabolites produced during respiratory infections, such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), create unique odor signatures. This study aims to identify a distinct signature of SARS-CoV-2 infection through the analysis of sweat metabolites. MATERIAL AND METHODS: = 50) from Pune district, Maharashtra. Sweat metabolites were extracted under acidic conditions and analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) with the NIST library and a hit threshold of 80%. The identified compounds were assessed for their origins and metabolic roles. RESULTS: Principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) revealed distinct clustering of the groups. We report six compounds-6-ethyl-2-methyl decane, tetradecane, styrene, 2-ethyl-1-hexanol, 2-methyl heptane, and 1-ethoxy pentane-specifically in infected individuals. CONCLUSION: Alkanes and their derivatives were significantly abundant in the symptomatic cohort and linked to inflammatory lung conditions as compared to healthy controls, thus affirming the presence of a distinct sweat metabolite profile in SARS-CoV-2 symptomatic individuals.

Source: Biomarkers in Medicine

DOI: 10.1080/17520363.2025.2600706

Authors: Snehal Bhumkar, Manjari Jonnalagadda, Khushman Taunk, Srikanth Rapole, Richa Ashma, Suresh Gosavi

Institutions: Savitribai Phule Pune University, Symbiosis International University, National Centre for Cell Science

Language: English

Topic: Metabolomics and Mass Spectrometry Studies

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, Department of Biotechnology, Government of West Bengal, Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan