| Title: | Drosophila melanogaster odorant receptors as volatile compound detectors in forensic science: a proof-of-concept study |
| Author(s): | Leitch O; Lennard C; Paul Kirkbride K; Anderson A; |
| Address: | "National Centre for Forensic Studies, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia. olivia.leitch@uts.edu.au. CSIRO Health and Biosecurity, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia. olivia.leitch@uts.edu.au. School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia. olivia.leitch@uts.edu.au. National Centre for Forensic Studies, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia. School of Science and Health, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia. The College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, 5042, Australia. CSIRO Health and Biosecurity, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia" |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s00216-018-1390-2 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1618-2650 (Electronic) 1618-2642 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "The ability to detect and identify substances based on the volatile compounds (odors) they emit is relied upon heavily for numerous investigative purposes. Animals have an innate olfactory sensitivity and selectivity that out-performs current instrumentation. This has led to immense interest in their employment as chemical sensors for a range of applications, including forensic science, both as whole organisms and as sensing elements in biosensors. Using electrophysiological and calcium imaging assays, this research examined the response of Drosophila melanogaster olfactory receptors (ORs) to odor compounds significant in forensic science and assessed their potential utility as volatile compound sensors. This investigation illustrated the different sensitivities, selectivities, and sensing features of individual ORs and demonstrated that their employment for detection purposes is feasible. While further research expanding on this study will be required to demonstrate the performance characteristics that an OR-based detection system will ultimately possess, this research provides an encouraging first step towards the goal of utilizing isolated biological ORs as volatile compound sensors in forensic science" |
| Keywords: | "Animals Biological Assay Cloning, Molecular *Drosophila melanogaster Electrophysiological Phenomena *Forensic Sciences Receptors, Odorant/*chemistry/genetics/metabolism Volatile Organic Compounds/*chemistry Biosensors Olfactory receptors Vinegar fly Volat;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineLeitch, Olivia Lennard, Chris Paul Kirkbride, K Anderson, Alisha eng Germany 2018/10/04 Anal Bioanal Chem. 2018 Nov; 410(29):7739-7747. doi: 10.1007/s00216-018-1390-2. Epub 2018 Oct 3" |
