Rapid discrimination of fungal strains isolated from human skin based on microbial volatile organic profiles

Studies of the microbiota of human skin have gained attention mainly because of its high complexity. Volatile metabolites that emerge from the microbiota play a significant role in fungus metabolism, acting on fungal development, defense, and protection against stress, communication, and pathogenicity. The present study evaluated volatile organic profiles, based on headspace–solid-phase microextraction–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. We sought to define the optimal experimental conditions for such identification. Chromatograms from 15 fungi were evaluated and discriminated by principal component analysis. The volatile metabolite profiles that were putatively identified in the present study (e.g 2‑isopropyl‑5‑methyl‑cyclohex‑3‑en‑1‑one, 3/2‑methyl‑1‑butanol, isopentyl ethanoate, phenyl ethanol) allowed the discrimination of different microorganisms from human skin. The present methodology may be a more rapid way of identifying microorganisms compared with conventional methods of microbiological identification. •Volatile metabolites from the microbiota play a significant role in fungus metabolism.•HS-SPME-GC–MS and PCA were used to discriminate different fungus from human skin.•The volatile metabolite profiles allowed the identification of different microorganisms.•The developed methodology may be a more rapid way compared with conventional methods.