Jennifer A Martin
Air Force Research Laboratories, USA
Title: Sweat sample processing, method development, and bioinformatic analysis for biomarkers of physical fatigue
Biography
Biography: Jennifer A Martin
Abstract
Sweat biomarker discovery is widely recognized as an invaluable goal for biomarker science. Sweat collection is non-invasive
and may provide a means for assessing readiness, fatigue, health and fitness, immune status, and a host of other physiological
states, though significant research investment is required before application as a diagnostic tool. The novelty of sweat analysis
has necessitated our development and optimization of methods for sweat collection, sample handling and preparation,
chromatography, global proteomics/metabolomics, and targeted analyses of small molecules in sweat using immunoassay
and mass-spectrometric techniques. Preliminary results indicate that the amino acid content, specifically histidine, may be
indicative of physical fatigue induced via aerobic exercise while the combination of top-down and classic bottom-up proteomics
approaches allowed identification of more than 80 different proteins in sweat. Increasing access to samples collected from study
participants across a wide range of research projects will enable future research aimed at identification and validation of novel
biomarkers found in sweat with the end-goal of generating wearable sensing technologies for optimization and protection of
human performance.