The BBC News Health January 10, 2013 features an article by researchers from The University of Vermont entitled, “Lung infection identified using ‘breath-print'.”  The research, also featured in the Journal of Breath Research, focuses on analyzing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) given off in exhaled breath by different bacteria as well as different strains of the same bacterium.  Breath analysis could be a very useful tool for children with cystic fibrosis, for example, as a guide on how to treat them.

Dr. Jane Hill, co-author of the study, from the University of Vermont, an assistant professor in the School of Engineering, feels there are still some challenges to overcome with "breath-prints" but her team is working systematically to move from the bench to the bedside.

The Journal of Breath Research article highlighted by the BBC and others is entitled, “Detecting bacterial lung infections: in vivo evaluation of in vitro volatile fingerprints” features researchers:  

Jiangjiang Zhu, Heather D Bean, and Jane E. Hill, from School of Engineering, University of Vermont; Matthew J Wargo, Laurie W Leclair, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Vermont College of Medicine, and the Vermont Lung Center, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Department of Medicine, University of Vermont College of Medicine.

To read the BBC news article visit:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-20975948

To read this research article visit: http://iopscience.iop.org/1752-7163/7/1/016003

Dr. Hill works in the area of rapid detection of pathogens using novel technologies.  This work was supported by NASA EPSCoR and the Center of Biomedical Research Excellence in Immunology and Infectious Diseases.

This collaborative work amongst experts from multiple disciplines is a valuable component of the interactive nature of the UVM research community. 

 

For more on the Hill Research Lab visit: http://www.cems.uvm.edu/~janehill/