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Spatial metabolomics in central nervous system infections

biochemistry

Ing. Ľudovít Škultéty, DrSc.

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Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Slovak University of Technology

Bacterial, fungal, and viral pathogens penetrating the nervous system of patients at risk (including neonates) trigger an immune cascade resulting in inflammation, leading to altered metabolic pathways and neuropathological changes in the brain. Blood and cerebrospinal fluid culture, serology, and PCR analysis are invasive with limited sensitivity and specificity. First, in the rat model, we will define the molecular mechanisms by which the pathogens interact with and penetrate the blood-brain and brain-cerebrospinal fluid barriers and correlate microbial invasion with pathological brain metabolism alterations at the regional and subregional levels. Second, we will quantify and correlate host neurotransmitters, neuropeptides, and brain lipids with pathogen-specific virulence metabolic biomarkers by spatial-metabolomics during CNS infection progression. Third, we will develop a noninvasive diagnostic tool for early detection of CNS infections and superinfections based on the proposed host-pathogen metabolic signature in urine and serum specimens and nasal swabs.
The interdisciplinary thesis aims to reduce the mortality and morbidity of patients with CNS infections by developing an original early diagnostics platform based on specific infection-related metabolic biomarkers.