An evaporation/condensation flow cell was developed and interfaced with the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization （MALDI） time-of-flight mass spectrometer for on-line bioaerosol detection and characterization,...An evaporation/condensation flow cell was developed and interfaced with the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization （MALDI） time-of-flight mass spectrometer for on-line bioaerosol detection and characterization, which allows matrix addition by condensation onto the laboratory-generated bioaerosol particles. The final coated particle exiting from the con- denser is then introduced into the aerodynamic particle sizer spectrometer or home-built aerosol laser time-of-flight mass spectrometer, and its aerodynamic size directly effects on the matrix-to-analyte molar ratio, which is very important for MALDI technique. In order to observe the protonated analyte molecular ion, and then determine the classification of bi- ological aerosols, the matrix-to-analyte molar ratio must be appropriate. Four experimental parameters, including the temperature of the heated reservoir, the initial particle size, its number concentration, and the matrix material, were tested experimentally to analyze their influences on the final particle size. This technique represents an on-line system of detection that has the potential to provide rapid and reliable identification of airborne biological aerosols.展开更多
A simple method was developed for rapid and direct profiling of alkaloids in medical herbs via matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry（MALDI-TOF MS）. The dry herbs were first gro...A simple method was developed for rapid and direct profiling of alkaloids in medical herbs via matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry（MALDI-TOF MS）. The dry herbs were first ground to powder and passed through a stainless steel sieve, mixed with the matrix solution to form a homogeneous suspension, which was then directly applied to MALDI analysis. Several matrices were investigated and 2,5- dihydroxybenzoic acid（DHB） was chosen as the optimized one, and the particle with small size was found to favor the analysis. Using this method, the profiles of alkaloids in several medical herbs were readily obtained, and the toxicities of crude and processed Radix Aconiti Lateralis Preparata were compared via the relative intensities of the peaks of the corresponding toxic components shown in their MALDI spectra. This method therefore provides a rapid and reliable protocol for obtaining profiles of alkaloids in medical herbs by using MALDI-TOF MS.展开更多
Introduction Single nucleotide polymorphisms （SNPs） are the most abundant DNA markers in the human genome occurring at a frequency of one in every 500--1000 nucleotides. A variety of methods have been used for the ...Introduction Single nucleotide polymorphisms （SNPs） are the most abundant DNA markers in the human genome occurring at a frequency of one in every 500--1000 nucleotides. A variety of methods have been used for the analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms, including restriction fragment length polymorphism （RFLP）, direct sequencing by using laser-induced fluorescence detectionTM, fluorescence energy transfer, MALDI-TOF MS combined with primer extension or invasive cleavage, and fluorescence polarization. During the past two decades, mass spectrometry has become a very popular tool in the analysis of biomolecules and is perfectly suited to the analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms （SNPs） due to its speed, low cost, and accuracy. In this work, we used MALDI TOF mass spectrometry to detect the fragments of restriction endonuclease hydrolysis of PCR products flanking a SNP located at paraoxonase 1（Q192R）. Compared with electrophoresis, this method requires less time of analysis and possess a higher accuracy.展开更多
A novel sample preparation method of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry for polystyrene was reported. Compared to the conventional dried-droplet method, the efficiency of ionization and sign...A novel sample preparation method of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry for polystyrene was reported. Compared to the conventional dried-droplet method, the efficiency of ionization and signal intensity of mass spectra were improved. The mechanism was also analyzed.展开更多
Matrix-assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization with Time-of-flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS) was investigated as a method for the rapid identifica-tion of species. Current demand in microbial identi-fication is how...Matrix-assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization with Time-of-flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS) was investigated as a method for the rapid identifica-tion of species. Current demand in microbial identi-fication is how to compare unknown strains to the known one quickly, semi-automatically and accurately. In this paper, we present a software tool that allows flexibly microbial matching in a user-friendly way, by letting the users to customize comparison parameters including: in vitro transcription enzyme, mass tolerance,minimum fragment length, intensity threshold and corresponding weights. We provide three spectral scoring functions to compute the affin-ity between the species. Therefore, the precision of microbial comparison increases. To test and verify this tool, we employed experimental spectral data based on MALDI-TOFMS and the gene sequences of E.coli and Salmonella. This software is written in Java for cross-platform intention.展开更多
Native and methyl-esterified sialylated glycans were analyzed with 2,4,6-trihydroxyacetophenone（THAP）and 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid（DHB）as matrix by a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass...Native and methyl-esterified sialylated glycans were analyzed with 2,4,6-trihydroxyacetophenone（THAP）and 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid（DHB）as matrix by a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer（MALDI-TOF MS）.High quality negative-ion spectra of commercial sialylated glycan were obtained with THAP as matrix.Detection limit of the glycan was less than 0.1 pmol.After methyl esterification of sialic acid（SA）residue,sialylated glycans were detected sensitively in the positive-ion mode using DHB as matrix.Neutral and sialylated glycans from the mixture of asialofetuin and fetuin were methylesterified and simultaneously recognized in one manipulation.Methyl esterification of SA residue offers a convenient and sensitive way to identify the structure of N-linked glycans for glycan profiling.展开更多
High-molecular-weight disinfection byproducts(HMW DBPs)have been increasingly recognized as contaminants that pose potential hazards to human health.However,reliable analytical methods for exploring the properties and...High-molecular-weight disinfection byproducts(HMW DBPs)have been increasingly recognized as contaminants that pose potential hazards to human health.However,reliable analytical methods for exploring the properties and structures of these DBPs remain limited.This study presents a novel approach for detecting and identifying HMW DBPs via matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry.The experimental conditions were optimized by selecting super-2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid(super-DHB)as the matrix and sodium trifluoroacetate as the cationization agent and employing the sandwich deposition method in reflection-positive ion mode with 90%laser intensity,resulting in the highest peak intensity for HMW DBPs.These optimized conditions enhanced peak reproducibility,yielding a signal-to-noise ratio of 134.9 and a coefficient of variation of 3.8%.With the new approach,five HMW DBPs were detected in simulated drinking water and identified as oligosaccharide carboxylic acids via isotopic pattern analysis,tandem mass spectrometry analysis in laser-induced dissociation mode,and database verification.展开更多
Background Freshwater snails of the genera Bulinus spp.,Biomphalaria spp.,and Oncomelania spp.are the main intermediate hosts of human and animal schistosomiasis.Identification of these snails has long been based on m...Background Freshwater snails of the genera Bulinus spp.,Biomphalaria spp.,and Oncomelania spp.are the main intermediate hosts of human and animal schistosomiasis.Identification of these snails has long been based on mor-phological and/or genomic criteria,which have their limitations.These limitations include a lack of precision for the morphological tool and cost and time for the DNA-based approach.Recently,Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorp-tion/lonization Time-Of-Flight(MALDI-TOF)mass spectrometry,a new tool used which is routinely in clinical microbi-ology,has emerged in the field of malacology for the identification of freshwater snails.This study aimed to evaluate the ability of MALDI-TOF MS to identify Biomphalaria pfeifferi and Bulinus forskali snail populations according to their geographicalorigin.Methods This study was conducted on 101 Bi.pfeifferi and 81 Bu.forskali snails collected in three distinct geo-graphical areas of Senegal(the North-East,South-East and central part of the country),and supplemented with wild and laboratory strains.Specimens which had previously been morphologically described were identified by MALDl-TOF MS[identification log score values(LSV)≥1.7],after an initial blind test using the pre-existing database.After DNA-based identification,new reference spectra of Bi.pfeiferi(n=10)and Bu.forskali(n=5)from the geographical areas were added to the MALDI-TOF spectral database.The final blind test against this updated database was per-formed to assess identification at the geographic source level.Results MALDI-TOF MS correctly identified 92.1%of 101 Bi.pfeifferi snails and 98.8%of 81 Bu.forskali snails.At the final blind test,88%of 166 specimens were correctly identified according to both their species and sampling site,with LSVs ranging from 1.74 to 2.70.The geographical source was adequately identified in 90.1%of 91 Bi.pfeifferi and 85.3%of 75 Bu.forskalii samples.Conclusions Our findings demonstrate that MALDI-TOF MS can identify and differentiate snail populations according to geographical origin.It outperforms the current DNA-based approaches in discriminating laboratory from wild strains.This inexpensive high-throughput approach is likely to further revolutionise epidemiological studies in areas which are endemic for schistosomiasis.展开更多
Gelsemium elegans Benth alkaloids are the main components of G.elegans and can cause acute toxicosis or even death.Although several studies have reported methods for detecting G.elegans alkaloids,a high-throughput and...Gelsemium elegans Benth alkaloids are the main components of G.elegans and can cause acute toxicosis or even death.Although several studies have reported methods for detecting G.elegans alkaloids,a high-throughput and environmental-friendly strategy for detection of multiple G.elegans alkaloids has not been realized.In this work,a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry method was developed for rapid detection of G.elegans alkaloids in human plasma and urine for diagnosis of poisoning.Multiple matrices and crys-tal spotting methods were evaluated to obtain stable and high peak intensities without“sweet spot”.We verified the methodology and obtained excellent results.The matrix effects with different dilutions were compared and good recoveries and a low relative standard deviation were obtained with a 40-fold dilution.This method could shorten the analysis time and greatly reduce the consumption of chemical solvents.Furthermore,it could be applied to quan-titative assessment of G.elegans alkaloid poisoning incidents.展开更多
Background Recently, due to the rapid development of proteomic techniques, great advance has been made in many scientific fields. We aimed to use magnetic beads （liquid chip） based matrix-assisted laser desorption/i...Background Recently, due to the rapid development of proteomic techniques, great advance has been made in many scientific fields. We aimed to use magnetic beads （liquid chip） based matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry （MALDI-TOF-MS） technology to screen distinctive biomarkers for lung adenocarcinoma （adCA）, and to establish the diagnostic protein profiles. Methods Using weak cation exchange magnetic beads （MB-WCX） to isolate and purify low molecular weight proteins from sera of 35 lung adCA, 46 benign lung diseases （BLDs） and 44 healthy individuals. The resulting spectra gained by anchor chip-MALDI-TOF-MS were analyzed by ClinProTools and a pattern recognition genetic algorithm （GA）. Results In the working mass range of 800-10 000 Da, 99 distinctive peaks were resolved in lung adCA versus BLDs, while 101 peaks were resolved in lung adCA versus healthy persons. The profile gained by GA that could distinguish adCA from BLDs was comprised of 4053.88, 4209.57 and 3883.33 Da with sensitivity of 80%, specificity of 93%, while that could separate adCA from healthy control was comprised of 2951.83 Da and 4209.73 Da with sensitivity of 94%, specificity of 95%. The sensitivity provided by carcinoembryonic antigen （CEA） in this experiment was significantly lower than our discriminatory profiles （P 〈0.005）. We further identified a eukaryotic peptide chain release factor GTP-binding subunit （eRF3b） （4209 Da） and a complement C3f （1865 Da） that may serve as candidate biomarkers for lung adCA. Conclusion Magnetic beads based MALDI-TOF-MS technology can rapidly and effectively screen distinctive proteins/polypeptides from sera of lung adCA patients and controls, which has potential value for establishing a new diagnostic method for lung adCA.展开更多
Background The pathogenesis of autism spectrum disorders remains elusive and currently there are no diagnostic or pre-dictive biomarkers in autism available. Proteomic profiling has been used in a wide range of neurod...Background The pathogenesis of autism spectrum disorders remains elusive and currently there are no diagnostic or pre-dictive biomarkers in autism available. Proteomic profiling has been used in a wide range of neurodevelopmental disorder studies, which could produce deeper perceptions of the molecular bases behind certain disease and potentially becomes useful in discovering biomarkers in autism spectrum disorders. Methods Serum samples were collected from autistic children about 3 years old in age (n = 32) and healthy controls (n = 20) in similar age and gender. The samples were identified specific proteins that are diff erentially expressed by magnetic bead-based pre-fractionation and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-ToF-MS). Results Eight protein peaks were significantly different in autistic children from the healthy controls (P < 0.0001). The two peaks with the most significant diff erences were 6428 and 7758 Da in size. Conclusion According to diff erences in serum protein profiles between the autistic children and healthy controls, this study identified a set of diff erentially expressed proteins those are significant for further evaluation and might function as biomark-ers in autism.展开更多
Background It is necessary to develop some innovative methods to reveal and discover the novel （SLE）-related protein molecules. In the present study, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass s...Background It is necessary to develop some innovative methods to reveal and discover the novel （SLE）-related protein molecules. In the present study, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry （MALDI- TOF MS） was employed to detect the differential expression of serum polypeptides in the patients with systemic lupus erythematosus （SLE） presenting with a family history or complicating with kidney injury so as to identify the proteins associated with the genetic factors and kidney injury in SLE. Methods The subjects recruited were divided into four groups, that is, a group of SLE patients with both family history and kidney injury, a group of SLE patients with only kidney injury but no family history, a group of SLE patients with neither family history nor kidney injury, and a control group consisting of healthy volunteers. By adopting MALDI-TOF MS analysis, the serum samples obtained from the three groups of SLE patients were examined and compared with those from the control group; the categorized peptide fingerprint profile was established via the biological data collected from the samples. Results The expression of protein with a mlz of 4207 Da increased significantly in SLE patients; the protein with a ml z of 2658 Da was expressed in all SLE patients; three proteins （with mlz of 1465, 5332, and 5900 Da respectively） were expressed in the SLE patients complicated with kidney injury and the protein with a mlz of 1943 Da was expressed in SLE patients with family history. Conclusion A number of differential proteins were successfully detected and identified through MALDI-TOF MS detection and these proteins may be associated with the genetic basis of SLE and the complicating kidney injury.展开更多
Granulicatella species,previously classified as nutritionally variant streptococci,have emerged as important opportunistic pathogens.Although typically part of the normal oral,gastrointestinal,and genitourinary flora,...Granulicatella species,previously classified as nutritionally variant streptococci,have emerged as important opportunistic pathogens.Although typically part of the normal oral,gastrointestinal,and genitourinary flora,these fastidious Gram-positive cocci can cause serious infections in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised individuals.Their identification often proves difficult due to slow growth and unusual nutritional requirements,which limit the reliability of conventional culture methods.This narrative review consolidates data from over 100 case reports and clinical studies to present a comprehensive overview of Granulicatella infections.Infective endocarditis appears as the most frequently reported and life-threatening condition,often affecting the aortic and mitral valves.Patients with prosthetic valves or congenital heart defects face a higher risk.Delayed diagnosis frequently results in complications such as heart failure,systemic emboli,and renal dysfunction.Granulicatella species also contribute to osteomyelitis,pulmonary infections,brain abscesses,gastrointestinal sepsis,and infections related to implanted medical devices.Effective management typically involves beta-lactam antibiotics combined with aminoglycosides,although antimicrobial resistance remains a concern.Surgical intervention often proves necessary,especially in cases with prosthetic material or severe complications.Outcomes are generally favorable when infections are identified early and managed effectively.However,delayed recognition and suboptimal therapy continue to contribute to poor prognoses in some patients.This review emphasizes the need to improve clinical awareness and establish standardized diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to address the challenges posed by Granulicatella infections.展开更多
Seed germination plays a pivotal role in plant growth and undergoes many intricate biochemical changes including lipid metabolism.Nevertheless,little is known about lipid changes and distributions in different structu...Seed germination plays a pivotal role in plant growth and undergoes many intricate biochemical changes including lipid metabolism.Nevertheless,little is known about lipid changes and distributions in different structures of soybean seeds during germination.Here,we applied mass spectrometry imaging(MSI)in conjunction with MS-based lipidomics to examine the lipid alterations in the embryo and cotyledon of soybean seeds during germination.To expand the coverage of lipid detection in soybean seeds,we used the novel techniques of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization(MALDI)and MALDI coupled with laser-postionization(MALDI-2).The results revealed that compared to MALDI,MALDI-2 enhanced the detected numbers and intensities of lipid species in various lipid classes,except for a few classes(e.g.,sphingomyelin and phosphatidylcholine).Lipidomic data showed that compared to the embryo,the cotyledon demonstrated slower but similar lipid changes during germination.These changes included the reduced levels of glycerolipids,phospholipids,and sterols,as well as the increased levels of lysophospholipids.Data from MALDI&MALDI-2 MSI supported and complemented these lipidomic findings.Our work highlights the significance of integrating lipid profiles and distributions to enhance our understanding of the metabolic pathways involved in seed germination.展开更多
This paper provides a systematic review of Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization-Mass Spectrometry Imaging(MALDI-MSI),encompassing its technical principles,experimental workflows,matrix optimization strategies,a...This paper provides a systematic review of Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization-Mass Spectrometry Imaging(MALDI-MSI),encompassing its technical principles,experimental workflows,matrix optimization strategies,and recent advancements in plant science applications.It highlights the method's groundbreaking applications in spatial mapping of plant metabolites,dynamic hormone monitoring,and functional studies of tissue microdomains,while offering critical insights into current technical limitations and future research directions.展开更多
Cancer cell spheroids(CCS) are a valuable three-dimensional cell model in cancer studies because they could replicate numerous characteristics of solid tumors. Increasing researches have used matrix-assisted laser des...Cancer cell spheroids(CCS) are a valuable three-dimensional cell model in cancer studies because they could replicate numerous characteristics of solid tumors. Increasing researches have used matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging(MALDI-MSI) to investigate the spatial distribution of endogenous compounds(e.g., lipids) in CCS. However, only limited lipid species can be detected owing to a low ion yield by using MALDI. Besides, it is still challenging to fully characterize the structural diversity of lipids due to the existence of isomeric/isobaric species. Here, we carried out the initial application of MALDI coupled with laser-postionization(MALDI-2) and trapped ion mobility spectrometry(TIMS) imaging in HCT116 colon CCS to address these challenges. We demonstrated that MALDI-2 is capable of detecting more number and classes of lipids in HCT116 colon CCS with higher signal intensities than MALDI. TIMS could successfully separate numerous isobaric/isomeric species of lipids in CCS. Interestingly, we found that some isomeric/isobaric species have totally different spatial distributions in colon CCS. Further MS/MS imaging analysis was employed to determine the compositions of fatty acid chains for isomeric species by examining disparities in signal intensities and spatial distributions of product ions. This work stresses the robust ability of TIMS and MALDI-2 imaging in analyzing endogenous lipids in CCS, which could potentially become powerful tools for future cancer studies.展开更多
Rationale:Nocardia is a soil saprophyte,which can cause disseminated infection in immunocompromised patients.Early diagnosis and treatment can greatly improve prognosis.Patient concern:A 26-year-old male presented wit...Rationale:Nocardia is a soil saprophyte,which can cause disseminated infection in immunocompromised patients.Early diagnosis and treatment can greatly improve prognosis.Patient concern:A 26-year-old male presented with repeated episodes of fever,cough and breathlessness for 3 months.Diagnosis:Mixed infection of Nocardia(N.)farcinica and N.cyriacigeorgica with diabetes and Cushing’s syndrome.Interventions:N.cyriacigeorgica was isolated from empyema fluid and N.farcinica from blood.Based on antimicrobial susceptibility,he was treated with imipenem,cotrimoxazole and amikacin.Outcome:Patient expired due to infection and delayed diagnosis.Lesson:Several cases of infection due to N.farcinica or N.cyriacigeorgica have been reported.But mixed infection caused by these two species is rare.Pulmonary and disseminated nocardiosis is associated with high mortality,especially in immunocompromised hosts.So early diagnosis and prompt treatment is needed.展开更多
Proteomics is one of the most active research fields in the post-genomic era. Here we briefly introduce the scientific background of the origination of proteomics and its content, research method. The new developments...Proteomics is one of the most active research fields in the post-genomic era. Here we briefly introduce the scientific background of the origination of proteomics and its content, research method. The new developments of proteomics at the levels of individual plants, tissues, organs and organells, as well as its applications in the area of plant genetic diversity, mutant characterization, and plant physiology, etc are reviewed. At last, the challenge and prospect of proteomics are discussed.展开更多
AIM： To investigate the non-He/icobacterpy/ori （H. pylori） bacterial flora concurrent with H. pylori infection.METHODS： A total of 103 gastric biopsy specimens from H. pylori positive patients were selected for ba...AIM： To investigate the non-He/icobacterpy/ori （H. pylori） bacterial flora concurrent with H. pylori infection.METHODS： A total of 103 gastric biopsy specimens from H. pylori positive patients were selected for bacterial culture. All the non-H, pylori bacterial isolates were identified by matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry （MALDI-TOF MS）.RESULTS： A total of 201 non-H, pyiori bacterial isolates were cultivated from 67 （65.0%） of the 103 gastric samples, including 153 isolates identified successfully at species level and 48 at genus level by MALDI-TOF MS. The dominant species were Streptococcus, Neisseria, Rothla and Staphylococcus, which differed fromthe predominantly acid resistant species reported previously in healthy volunteers. The prevalence of non-H. pylori bacteria was higher in non-ulcer dyspepsia group than in gastric ulcer group （100% vs 42.9%, P 〈 0.001）. Six bacterial species with urease activity （Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus warneri, Staphylococcus capitis, Staphylococcus aureus, Brevibacteriurn spp. and Klebsiella pneumoniae） were also isolated.CONCLUSION： There is a high prevalence of the non-H, pylori bacteria concurrent with H. pylori infection, and the non-H, pylori bacteria may also play important as-yet-undiscovered roles in the pathogenesis of stomach disorders.展开更多
AIM:To explore the method for early diagnosis of gastric cancer by screening the expression spectrum of saliva protein in gastric cancer patients using mass spectrometry for proteomics.METHODS:Proportional peptide mas...AIM:To explore the method for early diagnosis of gastric cancer by screening the expression spectrum of saliva protein in gastric cancer patients using mass spectrometry for proteomics.METHODS:Proportional peptide mass fingerprints were obtained by analysis based on proteomics matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight/mass spectrometry.A diagnosis model was established using weak cation exchange magnetic beads to test saliva specimens from gastric cancer patients and healthy subjects.RESULTS:Significant differences were observed in the mass to charge ratio(m/z) peaks of four proteins(1472.78 Da,2936.49 Da,6556.81 Da and 7081.17 Da) between gastric cancer patients and healthy subjects.CONCLUSION:The finger print mass spectrum of saliva protein in patients with gastric cancer can be established using gastric cancer proteomics.A diagnostic model for distinguishing protein expression mass spectra of gastric cancer from non-gastric-cancer saliva can be established according to the different expression of proteins 1472.78 Da,2936.49 Da,6556.81 Da and 7081.17 Da.The method for early diagnosis of gastric cancer is of certain value for screening special biological markers.展开更多
文摘An evaporation/condensation flow cell was developed and interfaced with the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization （MALDI） time-of-flight mass spectrometer for on-line bioaerosol detection and characterization, which allows matrix addition by condensation onto the laboratory-generated bioaerosol particles. The final coated particle exiting from the con- denser is then introduced into the aerodynamic particle sizer spectrometer or home-built aerosol laser time-of-flight mass spectrometer, and its aerodynamic size directly effects on the matrix-to-analyte molar ratio, which is very important for MALDI technique. In order to observe the protonated analyte molecular ion, and then determine the classification of bi- ological aerosols, the matrix-to-analyte molar ratio must be appropriate. Four experimental parameters, including the temperature of the heated reservoir, the initial particle size, its number concentration, and the matrix material, were tested experimentally to analyze their influences on the final particle size. This technique represents an on-line system of detection that has the potential to provide rapid and reliable identification of airborne biological aerosols.
基金Supported by the Major State Basic Research Development Program of China(No.2006CB5047060)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.30672600, 30772721)the Natural Science Foundation of Jilin Province, China (No.20060902)
文摘A simple method was developed for rapid and direct profiling of alkaloids in medical herbs via matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry（MALDI-TOF MS）. The dry herbs were first ground to powder and passed through a stainless steel sieve, mixed with the matrix solution to form a homogeneous suspension, which was then directly applied to MALDI analysis. Several matrices were investigated and 2,5- dihydroxybenzoic acid（DHB） was chosen as the optimized one, and the particle with small size was found to favor the analysis. Using this method, the profiles of alkaloids in several medical herbs were readily obtained, and the toxicities of crude and processed Radix Aconiti Lateralis Preparata were compared via the relative intensities of the peaks of the corresponding toxic components shown in their MALDI spectra. This method therefore provides a rapid and reliable protocol for obtaining profiles of alkaloids in medical herbs by using MALDI-TOF MS.
文摘Introduction Single nucleotide polymorphisms （SNPs） are the most abundant DNA markers in the human genome occurring at a frequency of one in every 500--1000 nucleotides. A variety of methods have been used for the analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms, including restriction fragment length polymorphism （RFLP）, direct sequencing by using laser-induced fluorescence detectionTM, fluorescence energy transfer, MALDI-TOF MS combined with primer extension or invasive cleavage, and fluorescence polarization. During the past two decades, mass spectrometry has become a very popular tool in the analysis of biomolecules and is perfectly suited to the analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms （SNPs） due to its speed, low cost, and accuracy. In this work, we used MALDI TOF mass spectrometry to detect the fragments of restriction endonuclease hydrolysis of PCR products flanking a SNP located at paraoxonase 1（Q192R）. Compared with electrophoresis, this method requires less time of analysis and possess a higher accuracy.
文摘A novel sample preparation method of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry for polystyrene was reported. Compared to the conventional dried-droplet method, the efficiency of ionization and signal intensity of mass spectra were improved. The mechanism was also analyzed.
文摘Matrix-assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization with Time-of-flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS) was investigated as a method for the rapid identifica-tion of species. Current demand in microbial identi-fication is how to compare unknown strains to the known one quickly, semi-automatically and accurately. In this paper, we present a software tool that allows flexibly microbial matching in a user-friendly way, by letting the users to customize comparison parameters including: in vitro transcription enzyme, mass tolerance,minimum fragment length, intensity threshold and corresponding weights. We provide three spectral scoring functions to compute the affin-ity between the species. Therefore, the precision of microbial comparison increases. To test and verify this tool, we employed experimental spectral data based on MALDI-TOFMS and the gene sequences of E.coli and Salmonella. This software is written in Java for cross-platform intention.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(30800193)Grant from Centre for International Mobility(CIMO),Finland
文摘Native and methyl-esterified sialylated glycans were analyzed with 2,4,6-trihydroxyacetophenone（THAP）and 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid（DHB）as matrix by a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer（MALDI-TOF MS）.High quality negative-ion spectra of commercial sialylated glycan were obtained with THAP as matrix.Detection limit of the glycan was less than 0.1 pmol.After methyl esterification of sialic acid（SA）residue,sialylated glycans were detected sensitively in the positive-ion mode using DHB as matrix.Neutral and sialylated glycans from the mixture of asialofetuin and fetuin were methylesterified and simultaneously recognized in one manipulation.Methyl esterification of SA residue offers a convenient and sensitive way to identify the structure of N-linked glycans for glycan profiling.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.22322605,22176089,22376099,and 22476096)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities,China(No.2024300400)the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province,China(No.BK20211509).
文摘High-molecular-weight disinfection byproducts(HMW DBPs)have been increasingly recognized as contaminants that pose potential hazards to human health.However,reliable analytical methods for exploring the properties and structures of these DBPs remain limited.This study presents a novel approach for detecting and identifying HMW DBPs via matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry.The experimental conditions were optimized by selecting super-2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid(super-DHB)as the matrix and sodium trifluoroacetate as the cationization agent and employing the sandwich deposition method in reflection-positive ion mode with 90%laser intensity,resulting in the highest peak intensity for HMW DBPs.These optimized conditions enhanced peak reproducibility,yielding a signal-to-noise ratio of 134.9 and a coefficient of variation of 3.8%.With the new approach,five HMW DBPs were detected in simulated drinking water and identified as oligosaccharide carboxylic acids via isotopic pattern analysis,tandem mass spectrometry analysis in laser-induced dissociation mode,and database verification.
文摘Background Freshwater snails of the genera Bulinus spp.,Biomphalaria spp.,and Oncomelania spp.are the main intermediate hosts of human and animal schistosomiasis.Identification of these snails has long been based on mor-phological and/or genomic criteria,which have their limitations.These limitations include a lack of precision for the morphological tool and cost and time for the DNA-based approach.Recently,Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorp-tion/lonization Time-Of-Flight(MALDI-TOF)mass spectrometry,a new tool used which is routinely in clinical microbi-ology,has emerged in the field of malacology for the identification of freshwater snails.This study aimed to evaluate the ability of MALDI-TOF MS to identify Biomphalaria pfeifferi and Bulinus forskali snail populations according to their geographicalorigin.Methods This study was conducted on 101 Bi.pfeifferi and 81 Bu.forskali snails collected in three distinct geo-graphical areas of Senegal(the North-East,South-East and central part of the country),and supplemented with wild and laboratory strains.Specimens which had previously been morphologically described were identified by MALDl-TOF MS[identification log score values(LSV)≥1.7],after an initial blind test using the pre-existing database.After DNA-based identification,new reference spectra of Bi.pfeiferi(n=10)and Bu.forskali(n=5)from the geographical areas were added to the MALDI-TOF spectral database.The final blind test against this updated database was per-formed to assess identification at the geographic source level.Results MALDI-TOF MS correctly identified 92.1%of 101 Bi.pfeifferi snails and 98.8%of 81 Bu.forskali snails.At the final blind test,88%of 166 specimens were correctly identified according to both their species and sampling site,with LSVs ranging from 1.74 to 2.70.The geographical source was adequately identified in 90.1%of 91 Bi.pfeifferi and 85.3%of 75 Bu.forskalii samples.Conclusions Our findings demonstrate that MALDI-TOF MS can identify and differentiate snail populations according to geographical origin.It outperforms the current DNA-based approaches in discriminating laboratory from wild strains.This inexpensive high-throughput approach is likely to further revolutionise epidemiological studies in areas which are endemic for schistosomiasis.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.32372448)Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation,China(Grant No.2023A1515012605)+2 种基金the Science and Technology Program of Guangdong Administration for Market Regulation,China(Grant No.2023CS01)the Science and Technology Program of National General Customs Administration of China(Grant No.2022HK108)the Science and Technology Program of Shantou City,China(Grant No.STKJ2023024).
文摘Gelsemium elegans Benth alkaloids are the main components of G.elegans and can cause acute toxicosis or even death.Although several studies have reported methods for detecting G.elegans alkaloids,a high-throughput and environmental-friendly strategy for detection of multiple G.elegans alkaloids has not been realized.In this work,a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry method was developed for rapid detection of G.elegans alkaloids in human plasma and urine for diagnosis of poisoning.Multiple matrices and crys-tal spotting methods were evaluated to obtain stable and high peak intensities without“sweet spot”.We verified the methodology and obtained excellent results.The matrix effects with different dilutions were compared and good recoveries and a low relative standard deviation were obtained with a 40-fold dilution.This method could shorten the analysis time and greatly reduce the consumption of chemical solvents.Furthermore,it could be applied to quan-titative assessment of G.elegans alkaloid poisoning incidents.
基金This work was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China （No. 30570795） and Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University （No. NECT-06-0845） and the Program in Science and Technology of Xi＇an, Shaanxi Province （No. S F08009（1））.Acknowledgement： We are grateful to HU Xiao-hui for the technical guidance.
文摘Background Recently, due to the rapid development of proteomic techniques, great advance has been made in many scientific fields. We aimed to use magnetic beads （liquid chip） based matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry （MALDI-TOF-MS） technology to screen distinctive biomarkers for lung adenocarcinoma （adCA）, and to establish the diagnostic protein profiles. Methods Using weak cation exchange magnetic beads （MB-WCX） to isolate and purify low molecular weight proteins from sera of 35 lung adCA, 46 benign lung diseases （BLDs） and 44 healthy individuals. The resulting spectra gained by anchor chip-MALDI-TOF-MS were analyzed by ClinProTools and a pattern recognition genetic algorithm （GA）. Results In the working mass range of 800-10 000 Da, 99 distinctive peaks were resolved in lung adCA versus BLDs, while 101 peaks were resolved in lung adCA versus healthy persons. The profile gained by GA that could distinguish adCA from BLDs was comprised of 4053.88, 4209.57 and 3883.33 Da with sensitivity of 80%, specificity of 93%, while that could separate adCA from healthy control was comprised of 2951.83 Da and 4209.73 Da with sensitivity of 94%, specificity of 95%. The sensitivity provided by carcinoembryonic antigen （CEA） in this experiment was significantly lower than our discriminatory profiles （P 〈0.005）. We further identified a eukaryotic peptide chain release factor GTP-binding subunit （eRF3b） （4209 Da） and a complement C3f （1865 Da） that may serve as candidate biomarkers for lung adCA. Conclusion Magnetic beads based MALDI-TOF-MS technology can rapidly and effectively screen distinctive proteins/polypeptides from sera of lung adCA patients and controls, which has potential value for establishing a new diagnostic method for lung adCA.
文摘Background The pathogenesis of autism spectrum disorders remains elusive and currently there are no diagnostic or pre-dictive biomarkers in autism available. Proteomic profiling has been used in a wide range of neurodevelopmental disorder studies, which could produce deeper perceptions of the molecular bases behind certain disease and potentially becomes useful in discovering biomarkers in autism spectrum disorders. Methods Serum samples were collected from autistic children about 3 years old in age (n = 32) and healthy controls (n = 20) in similar age and gender. The samples were identified specific proteins that are diff erentially expressed by magnetic bead-based pre-fractionation and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-ToF-MS). Results Eight protein peaks were significantly different in autistic children from the healthy controls (P < 0.0001). The two peaks with the most significant diff erences were 6428 and 7758 Da in size. Conclusion According to diff erences in serum protein profiles between the autistic children and healthy controls, this study identified a set of diff erentially expressed proteins those are significant for further evaluation and might function as biomark-ers in autism.
文摘Background It is necessary to develop some innovative methods to reveal and discover the novel （SLE）-related protein molecules. In the present study, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry （MALDI- TOF MS） was employed to detect the differential expression of serum polypeptides in the patients with systemic lupus erythematosus （SLE） presenting with a family history or complicating with kidney injury so as to identify the proteins associated with the genetic factors and kidney injury in SLE. Methods The subjects recruited were divided into four groups, that is, a group of SLE patients with both family history and kidney injury, a group of SLE patients with only kidney injury but no family history, a group of SLE patients with neither family history nor kidney injury, and a control group consisting of healthy volunteers. By adopting MALDI-TOF MS analysis, the serum samples obtained from the three groups of SLE patients were examined and compared with those from the control group; the categorized peptide fingerprint profile was established via the biological data collected from the samples. Results The expression of protein with a mlz of 4207 Da increased significantly in SLE patients; the protein with a ml z of 2658 Da was expressed in all SLE patients; three proteins （with mlz of 1465, 5332, and 5900 Da respectively） were expressed in the SLE patients complicated with kidney injury and the protein with a mlz of 1943 Da was expressed in SLE patients with family history. Conclusion A number of differential proteins were successfully detected and identified through MALDI-TOF MS detection and these proteins may be associated with the genetic basis of SLE and the complicating kidney injury.
文摘Granulicatella species,previously classified as nutritionally variant streptococci,have emerged as important opportunistic pathogens.Although typically part of the normal oral,gastrointestinal,and genitourinary flora,these fastidious Gram-positive cocci can cause serious infections in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised individuals.Their identification often proves difficult due to slow growth and unusual nutritional requirements,which limit the reliability of conventional culture methods.This narrative review consolidates data from over 100 case reports and clinical studies to present a comprehensive overview of Granulicatella infections.Infective endocarditis appears as the most frequently reported and life-threatening condition,often affecting the aortic and mitral valves.Patients with prosthetic valves or congenital heart defects face a higher risk.Delayed diagnosis frequently results in complications such as heart failure,systemic emboli,and renal dysfunction.Granulicatella species also contribute to osteomyelitis,pulmonary infections,brain abscesses,gastrointestinal sepsis,and infections related to implanted medical devices.Effective management typically involves beta-lactam antibiotics combined with aminoglycosides,although antimicrobial resistance remains a concern.Surgical intervention often proves necessary,especially in cases with prosthetic material or severe complications.Outcomes are generally favorable when infections are identified early and managed effectively.However,delayed recognition and suboptimal therapy continue to contribute to poor prognoses in some patients.This review emphasizes the need to improve clinical awareness and establish standardized diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to address the challenges posed by Granulicatella infections.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.22036001)。
文摘Seed germination plays a pivotal role in plant growth and undergoes many intricate biochemical changes including lipid metabolism.Nevertheless,little is known about lipid changes and distributions in different structures of soybean seeds during germination.Here,we applied mass spectrometry imaging(MSI)in conjunction with MS-based lipidomics to examine the lipid alterations in the embryo and cotyledon of soybean seeds during germination.To expand the coverage of lipid detection in soybean seeds,we used the novel techniques of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization(MALDI)and MALDI coupled with laser-postionization(MALDI-2).The results revealed that compared to MALDI,MALDI-2 enhanced the detected numbers and intensities of lipid species in various lipid classes,except for a few classes(e.g.,sphingomyelin and phosphatidylcholine).Lipidomic data showed that compared to the embryo,the cotyledon demonstrated slower but similar lipid changes during germination.These changes included the reduced levels of glycerolipids,phospholipids,and sterols,as well as the increased levels of lysophospholipids.Data from MALDI&MALDI-2 MSI supported and complemented these lipidomic findings.Our work highlights the significance of integrating lipid profiles and distributions to enhance our understanding of the metabolic pathways involved in seed germination.
文摘This paper provides a systematic review of Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization-Mass Spectrometry Imaging(MALDI-MSI),encompassing its technical principles,experimental workflows,matrix optimization strategies,and recent advancements in plant science applications.It highlights the method's groundbreaking applications in spatial mapping of plant metabolites,dynamic hormone monitoring,and functional studies of tissue microdomains,while offering critical insights into current technical limitations and future research directions.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos.22036001, 22276034 and 22106130)。
文摘Cancer cell spheroids(CCS) are a valuable three-dimensional cell model in cancer studies because they could replicate numerous characteristics of solid tumors. Increasing researches have used matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging(MALDI-MSI) to investigate the spatial distribution of endogenous compounds(e.g., lipids) in CCS. However, only limited lipid species can be detected owing to a low ion yield by using MALDI. Besides, it is still challenging to fully characterize the structural diversity of lipids due to the existence of isomeric/isobaric species. Here, we carried out the initial application of MALDI coupled with laser-postionization(MALDI-2) and trapped ion mobility spectrometry(TIMS) imaging in HCT116 colon CCS to address these challenges. We demonstrated that MALDI-2 is capable of detecting more number and classes of lipids in HCT116 colon CCS with higher signal intensities than MALDI. TIMS could successfully separate numerous isobaric/isomeric species of lipids in CCS. Interestingly, we found that some isomeric/isobaric species have totally different spatial distributions in colon CCS. Further MS/MS imaging analysis was employed to determine the compositions of fatty acid chains for isomeric species by examining disparities in signal intensities and spatial distributions of product ions. This work stresses the robust ability of TIMS and MALDI-2 imaging in analyzing endogenous lipids in CCS, which could potentially become powerful tools for future cancer studies.
文摘Rationale:Nocardia is a soil saprophyte,which can cause disseminated infection in immunocompromised patients.Early diagnosis and treatment can greatly improve prognosis.Patient concern:A 26-year-old male presented with repeated episodes of fever,cough and breathlessness for 3 months.Diagnosis:Mixed infection of Nocardia(N.)farcinica and N.cyriacigeorgica with diabetes and Cushing’s syndrome.Interventions:N.cyriacigeorgica was isolated from empyema fluid and N.farcinica from blood.Based on antimicrobial susceptibility,he was treated with imipenem,cotrimoxazole and amikacin.Outcome:Patient expired due to infection and delayed diagnosis.Lesson:Several cases of infection due to N.farcinica or N.cyriacigeorgica have been reported.But mixed infection caused by these two species is rare.Pulmonary and disseminated nocardiosis is associated with high mortality,especially in immunocompromised hosts.So early diagnosis and prompt treatment is needed.
文摘Proteomics is one of the most active research fields in the post-genomic era. Here we briefly introduce the scientific background of the origination of proteomics and its content, research method. The new developments of proteomics at the levels of individual plants, tissues, organs and organells, as well as its applications in the area of plant genetic diversity, mutant characterization, and plant physiology, etc are reviewed. At last, the challenge and prospect of proteomics are discussed.
基金Supported by The major projects of infectious disease prevention and control in China,including AIDS and viral hepatitis,No.2008ZX10004-002 and No.2009ZX10603
文摘AIM： To investigate the non-He/icobacterpy/ori （H. pylori） bacterial flora concurrent with H. pylori infection.METHODS： A total of 103 gastric biopsy specimens from H. pylori positive patients were selected for bacterial culture. All the non-H, pylori bacterial isolates were identified by matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry （MALDI-TOF MS）.RESULTS： A total of 201 non-H, pyiori bacterial isolates were cultivated from 67 （65.0%） of the 103 gastric samples, including 153 isolates identified successfully at species level and 48 at genus level by MALDI-TOF MS. The dominant species were Streptococcus, Neisseria, Rothla and Staphylococcus, which differed fromthe predominantly acid resistant species reported previously in healthy volunteers. The prevalence of non-H. pylori bacteria was higher in non-ulcer dyspepsia group than in gastric ulcer group （100% vs 42.9%, P 〈 0.001）. Six bacterial species with urease activity （Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus warneri, Staphylococcus capitis, Staphylococcus aureus, Brevibacteriurn spp. and Klebsiella pneumoniae） were also isolated.CONCLUSION： There is a high prevalence of the non-H, pylori bacteria concurrent with H. pylori infection, and the non-H, pylori bacteria may also play important as-yet-undiscovered roles in the pathogenesis of stomach disorders.
基金Supported by The National Natural Science Foundation of China,No. 30640071
文摘AIM:To explore the method for early diagnosis of gastric cancer by screening the expression spectrum of saliva protein in gastric cancer patients using mass spectrometry for proteomics.METHODS:Proportional peptide mass fingerprints were obtained by analysis based on proteomics matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight/mass spectrometry.A diagnosis model was established using weak cation exchange magnetic beads to test saliva specimens from gastric cancer patients and healthy subjects.RESULTS:Significant differences were observed in the mass to charge ratio(m/z) peaks of four proteins(1472.78 Da,2936.49 Da,6556.81 Da and 7081.17 Da) between gastric cancer patients and healthy subjects.CONCLUSION:The finger print mass spectrum of saliva protein in patients with gastric cancer can be established using gastric cancer proteomics.A diagnostic model for distinguishing protein expression mass spectra of gastric cancer from non-gastric-cancer saliva can be established according to the different expression of proteins 1472.78 Da,2936.49 Da,6556.81 Da and 7081.17 Da.The method for early diagnosis of gastric cancer is of certain value for screening special biological markers.
