Chemical profiling of the human skin surface for malaria vector control via a non-invasive sorptive sampler with GC×GC-TOFMS

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and semi-VOCs detected on the human skin surface are of great interest to researchers in the fields of metabolomics, diagnostics, and skin microbiota and in the study of anthropophilic vector mosquitoes. Mosquitoes use chemical cues to find their host, and humans can be ranked for attractiveness to mosquitoes based on their skin chemical profile. Additionally, mosquitoes show a preference to bite certain regions on the human host. In this study, the chemical differences in the skin surface profiles of 20 human volunteers were compared based on inter-human attractiveness to mosquitoes, as well as inter- and intra-human mosquito biting site preference. A passive, non-invasive approach was followed to sample the wrist and ankle skin surface region. An in-house developed polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) passive sampler was used to concentrate skin VOCs and semi-VOCs prior to thermal desorption directly in the GC inlet with comprehensive gas chromatography coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC×GC-TOFMS). Compounds from a broad range of chemical classes were detected and identified as contributing to the differences in the surface skin chemical profiles. 5-Ethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene, 1,1′-oxybisoctane, 2-(dodecyloxy)ethanol, α,α-dimethylbenzene methanol, methyl salicylate, 2,6,10,14-tetramethylhexadecane, 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, bis(2-methylpropyl) ester, 4-methylbenzaldehyde, 2,6-diisopropylnaphthalene, n -hexadecanoic acid, and γ-oxobenzenebutanoic acid ethyl ester were closely associated with individuals who perceived themselves as attractive for mosquitoes. Additionally, biological lead compounds as potential attractants or repellants in vector control strategies were tentatively identified. Results augment current knowledge on human skin chemical profiles and show the potential of using a non-invasive sampling approach to investigate anthropophilic mosquito-host interactions. Graphical abstract