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Zhang W, Hu W, Zhu Q, Niu M, An N, Feng Y, Kawamura K, Fu P. Hydroxy fatty acids in the surface Earth system. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 906:167358. [PMID: 37793460 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
Lipids are ubiquitous and highly abundant in a wide range of organisms and have been found in various types of environmental media. These molecules play a crucial role as organic tracers by providing a chemical perspective on viewing the material world, as well as offering a wealth of information on metabolic activities. Among the diverse lipid compounds, hydroxy fatty acids (HFAs) with one to multiple hydroxyl groups attached to the carbon chain stand out as important biomarkers for different sources of organic matter. HFAs are widespread in nature and are involved in biotransformation and oxidation processes in living organisms. The unique chemical and physical properties attributed to the hydroxyl group make HFAs ideal biomarkers in biomedicine and environmental toxicology, as well as organic geochemistry. The molecular distribution patterns of HFAs can be unique and diagnostic for a given class of organisms, including animals, plants, and microorganisms. Thus, HFAs can act as a valuable proxy for understanding the ecological relationships between different organisms and their environment. Furthermore, HFAs have numerous industrial applications due to their higher reactivity, viscosity, and solvent miscibility. This review paper integrates the latest research on the sources and chemical analyses of HFAs, as well as their applications in industrial/medicinal production and as biomarkers in environmental studies. This review article also provides insights into the biogeochemical cycles of HFAs in the surface Earth system, highlighting the importance of these compounds in understanding the complex interactions between living organisms and the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenxin Zhang
- Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China; Department of Chemistry, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Wei Hu
- Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China; Tianjin Bohai Rim Coastal Earth Critical Zone National Observation and Research Station, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China.
| | - Quanfei Zhu
- Department of Chemistry, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Mutong Niu
- Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Na An
- Department of Chemistry, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Yuqi Feng
- Department of Chemistry, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China; Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Kimitaka Kawamura
- Chubu Institute for Advanced Studies, Chubu University, Kasugai 487-8501, Japan
| | - Pingqing Fu
- Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Earth Critical Zone Science and Sustainable Development in Bohai Rim, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China.
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Shamarina D, Stoyantcheva I, Mason CE, Bibby K, Elhaik E. Communicating the promise, risks, and ethics of large-scale, open space microbiome and metagenome research. MICROBIOME 2017; 5:132. [PMID: 28978331 PMCID: PMC5628477 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-017-0349-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2017] [Accepted: 09/20/2017] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
The public commonly associates microorganisms with pathogens. This suspicion of microorganisms is understandable, as historically microorganisms have killed more humans than any other agent while remaining largely unknown until the late seventeenth century with the works of van Leeuwenhoek and Kircher. Despite our improved understanding regarding microorganisms, the general public are apt to think of diseases rather than of the majority of harmless or beneficial species that inhabit our bodies and the built and natural environment. As long as microbiome research was confined to labs, the public's exposure to microbiology was limited. The recent launch of global microbiome surveys, such as the Earth Microbiome Project and MetaSUB (Metagenomics and Metadesign of Subways and Urban Biomes) project, has raised ethical, financial, feasibility, and sustainability concerns as to the public's level of understanding and potential reaction to the findings, which, done improperly, risk negative implications for ongoing and future investigations, but done correctly, can facilitate a new vision of "smart cities." To facilitate improved future research, we describe here the major concerns that our discussions with ethics committees, community leaders, and government officials have raised, and we expound on how to address them. We further discuss ethical considerations of microbiome surveys and provide practical recommendations for public engagement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daria Shamarina
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN UK
| | - Iana Stoyantcheva
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN UK
| | - Christopher E. Mason
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021 USA
- The HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud Institute for Computational Biomedicine, New York, NY 10021 USA
- The Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021 USA
| | - Kyle Bibby
- University of Notre Dame Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dameᅟ, IN 46556 USA
| | - Eran Elhaik
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN UK
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Haaland D, Siegel JA. Quantitative filter forensics for indoor particle sampling. INDOOR AIR 2017; 27:364-376. [PMID: 27385357 DOI: 10.1111/ina.12319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2016] [Accepted: 07/04/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Filter forensics is a promising indoor air investigation technique involving the analysis of dust which has collected on filters in central forced-air heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) or portable systems to determine the presence of indoor particle-bound contaminants. In this study, we summarize past filter forensics research to explore what it reveals about the sampling technique and the indoor environment. There are 60 investigations in the literature that have used this sampling technique for a variety of biotic and abiotic contaminants. Many studies identified differences between contaminant concentrations in different buildings using this technique. Based on this literature review, we identified a lack of quantification as a gap in the past literature. Accordingly, we propose an approach to quantitatively link contaminants extracted from HVAC filter dust to time-averaged integrated air concentrations. This quantitative filter forensics approach has great potential to measure indoor air concentrations of a wide variety of particle-bound contaminants. Future studies directly comparing quantitative filter forensics to alternative sampling techniques are required to fully assess this approach, but analysis of past research suggests the enormous possibility of this approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Haaland
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - J A Siegel
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, The University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Moazeni-Pourasil RS, Piri F, Ghassempour A, Jalali-Heravi M. The use of multivariate curve resolution methods to improve the analysis of muramic acid as bacterial marker using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry: An alternative method to gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 2014; 949-950:1-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2013.12.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2013] [Revised: 12/25/2013] [Accepted: 12/27/2013] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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5
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Xu RB, Yang X, Wang J, Zhao HT, Lu WH, Cui J, Cheng CL, Zou P, Huang WW, Wang P, Li WJ, Hu XL. Chemical composition and antioxidant activities of three polysaccharide fractions from pine cones. Int J Mol Sci 2012. [PMID: 23203063 PMCID: PMC3509579 DOI: 10.3390/ijms131114262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The traditional method of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for monosaccharide component analysis with pretreatment of acetylation is described with slight modifications and verified in detail in this paper. It was then successfully applied to the quantitative analysis of component monosaccharides in polysaccharides extracted from the pine cones. The results demonstrated that the three pine cone polysaccharides all consisted of ribose, rhamnose, arabinose, xylose, mannose, glucose and galactose in different molar ratios. According to the recovery experiment, the described method was proved accurate and practical for the analysis of pine cone polysaccharides, meeting the need in the field of chemical analysis of Pinus plants. Furthermore; the chemical characteristics, such as neutral sugar, uronic acids, amino acids, molecular weights, and antioxidant activities of the polysaccharides were investigated by chemical and instrumental methods. The results showed that the chemical compositions of the polysaccharides differed from each other, especially in the content of neutral sugar and uronic acid. In the antioxidant assays, the polysaccharide fractions exhibited effective scavenging activities on ABTS radical and hydroxyl radical, with their antioxidant capabilities decreasing in the order of PKP > PAP > PSP. Therefore, although the polysaccharide fractions had little effect on superoxide radical scavenging, they still have potential to be developed as natural antioxidant agents in functional foods or medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ren-Bo Xu
- School of Food Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, 73 Huanghe Road, Nangang District, Harbin 150090, China; E-Mails: (R.-B.X.); (H.-T.Z.); (W.-H.L.); (J.C.); (C.-L.C.); (P.Z.); (W.-W.H.); (P.W.); (W.-J.L.); (X.-L.H.)
| | - Xin Yang
- School of Food Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, 73 Huanghe Road, Nangang District, Harbin 150090, China; E-Mails: (R.-B.X.); (H.-T.Z.); (W.-H.L.); (J.C.); (C.-L.C.); (P.Z.); (W.-W.H.); (P.W.); (W.-J.L.); (X.-L.H.)
- Key Laboratory of Agro-product Quality and Safety, Institute of Quality Standard & Testing Technology for Agro-Product, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, No.12 Zhongguancun South Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100081, China
- Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mails: (X.Y.); (J.W.); Tel.: +86-451-86282910 (X.Y.); Fax: +86-451-86282906 (X.Y.)
| | - Jing Wang
- Key Laboratory of Agro-product Quality and Safety, Institute of Quality Standard & Testing Technology for Agro-Product, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, No.12 Zhongguancun South Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100081, China
- Key Laboratory of Agrifood Safety and Quality, Ministry of Agriculture, No.12 Zhongguancun South Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100081, China
- Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mails: (X.Y.); (J.W.); Tel.: +86-451-86282910 (X.Y.); Fax: +86-451-86282906 (X.Y.)
| | - Hai-Tian Zhao
- School of Food Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, 73 Huanghe Road, Nangang District, Harbin 150090, China; E-Mails: (R.-B.X.); (H.-T.Z.); (W.-H.L.); (J.C.); (C.-L.C.); (P.Z.); (W.-W.H.); (P.W.); (W.-J.L.); (X.-L.H.)
| | - Wei-Hong Lu
- School of Food Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, 73 Huanghe Road, Nangang District, Harbin 150090, China; E-Mails: (R.-B.X.); (H.-T.Z.); (W.-H.L.); (J.C.); (C.-L.C.); (P.Z.); (W.-W.H.); (P.W.); (W.-J.L.); (X.-L.H.)
| | - Jie Cui
- School of Food Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, 73 Huanghe Road, Nangang District, Harbin 150090, China; E-Mails: (R.-B.X.); (H.-T.Z.); (W.-H.L.); (J.C.); (C.-L.C.); (P.Z.); (W.-W.H.); (P.W.); (W.-J.L.); (X.-L.H.)
| | - Cui-Lin Cheng
- School of Food Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, 73 Huanghe Road, Nangang District, Harbin 150090, China; E-Mails: (R.-B.X.); (H.-T.Z.); (W.-H.L.); (J.C.); (C.-L.C.); (P.Z.); (W.-W.H.); (P.W.); (W.-J.L.); (X.-L.H.)
| | - Pan Zou
- School of Food Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, 73 Huanghe Road, Nangang District, Harbin 150090, China; E-Mails: (R.-B.X.); (H.-T.Z.); (W.-H.L.); (J.C.); (C.-L.C.); (P.Z.); (W.-W.H.); (P.W.); (W.-J.L.); (X.-L.H.)
| | - Wei-Wei Huang
- School of Food Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, 73 Huanghe Road, Nangang District, Harbin 150090, China; E-Mails: (R.-B.X.); (H.-T.Z.); (W.-H.L.); (J.C.); (C.-L.C.); (P.Z.); (W.-W.H.); (P.W.); (W.-J.L.); (X.-L.H.)
| | - Pu Wang
- School of Food Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, 73 Huanghe Road, Nangang District, Harbin 150090, China; E-Mails: (R.-B.X.); (H.-T.Z.); (W.-H.L.); (J.C.); (C.-L.C.); (P.Z.); (W.-W.H.); (P.W.); (W.-J.L.); (X.-L.H.)
| | - Wen-Jing Li
- School of Food Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, 73 Huanghe Road, Nangang District, Harbin 150090, China; E-Mails: (R.-B.X.); (H.-T.Z.); (W.-H.L.); (J.C.); (C.-L.C.); (P.Z.); (W.-W.H.); (P.W.); (W.-J.L.); (X.-L.H.)
| | - Xing-Long Hu
- School of Food Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, 73 Huanghe Road, Nangang District, Harbin 150090, China; E-Mails: (R.-B.X.); (H.-T.Z.); (W.-H.L.); (J.C.); (C.-L.C.); (P.Z.); (W.-W.H.); (P.W.); (W.-J.L.); (X.-L.H.)
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Osipov GA, Boiko NB, Fedosova NF, Kasikhina SA, Lyadov KV. Comparative gas chromatography-mass spectrometry study of the composition of microbial chemical markers in feces. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY IN HEALTH AND DISEASE 2009. [DOI: 10.3109/08910600903462657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
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7
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Martinez KF, Seitz TA, Lonon MK, Weber AM. Application of Culturable Sampling Methods for the Assessment of Workplace Concentrations of Bioaerosols. Inhal Toxicol 2008. [DOI: 10.3109/08958379509012802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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8
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Parisi D, Magliulo M, Nanni P, Casale M, Forina M, Roda A. Analysis and classification of bacteria by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and a chemometric approach. Anal Bioanal Chem 2008; 391:2127-34. [DOI: 10.1007/s00216-008-2161-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2008] [Revised: 04/22/2008] [Accepted: 04/23/2008] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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9
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Fox K, Castanha E, Fox A, Feigley C, Salzberg D. Human K10 epithelial keratin is the most abundant protein in airborne dust of both occupied and unoccupied school rooms. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2007; 10:55-9. [PMID: 18175017 DOI: 10.1039/b714802j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Previously it was demonstrated that the levels of large particles (>2 micron) and associated bacterial cell envelope markers increase greatly on occupation in schools; it was hypothesized that the source of both was shed human skin. In the current work to test this hypothesis, room air cleaners were used to collect airborne dust (>50-100 mg) from occupied and unoccupied school rooms which was then subjected to proteomic analysis. Proteins were extracted from the dust and separated using two dimensional gel electrophoresis (2D GE). In situ digestion of protein spots with trypsin released peptides, which were subsequently analyzed by matrix assisted laser desorption/deionization, time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) and tandem mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS-MS). In Coomassie blue stained gels, a single spot generally dominated the 2D gels; this protein was identified by tandem mass spectrometry as K10 epithelial keratin. The results experimentally confirm previous anecdotal reports that human skin is readily shed into air and suggest that increased levels of microbial markers and large particles observed in occupied rooms are also derived from skin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Fox
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
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10
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Tobias HJ, Schafer MP, Pitesky M, Fergenson DP, Horn J, Frank M, Gard EE. Bioaerosol mass spectrometry for rapid detection of individual airborne Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra particles. Appl Environ Microbiol 2005; 71:6086-95. [PMID: 16204525 PMCID: PMC1265962 DOI: 10.1128/aem.71.10.6086-6095.2005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Single-particle laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry, in the form of bioaerosol mass spectrometry (BAMS), was evaluated as a rapid detector for individual airborne, micron-sized, Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra particles, comprised of a single cell or a small number of clumped cells. The BAMS mass spectral signatures for aerosolized M. tuberculosis H37Ra particles were found to be distinct from M. smegmatis, Bacillus atrophaeus, and B. cereus particles, using a distinct biomarker. This is the first time a potentially unique biomarker was measured in M. tuberculosis H37Ra on a single-cell level. In addition, M. tuberculosis H37Ra and M. smegmatis were aerosolized into a bioaerosol chamber and were sampled and analyzed using BAMS, an aerodynamic particle sizer, a viable Anderson six-stage sampler, and filter cassette samplers that permitted direct counts of cells. In a background-free environment, BAMS was able to sample and detect M. tuberculosis H37Ra at airborne concentrations of >1 M. tuberculosis H37Ra-containing particles/liter of air in 20 min as determined by direct counts of filter cassette-sampled particles, and concentrations of >40 M. tuberculosis H37Ra CFU/liter of air in 1 min as determined by using viable Andersen six-stage samplers. This is a first step toward the development of a rapid, stand-alone airborne M. tuberculosis particle detector for the direct detection of M. tuberculosis bioaerosols generated by an infectious patient. Additional instrumental development is currently under way to make BAMS useful in realistic environmental and respiratory particle backgrounds expected in tuberculosis diagnostic scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Herbert J Tobias
- L-452 Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 7000 East Ave, Livermore, CA 94550, USA
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11
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Fox A, Harley W, Feigley C, Salzberg D, Toole C, Sebastian A, Larsson L. Large particles are responsible for elevated bacterial marker levels in school air upon occupation. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2005; 7:450-6. [PMID: 15877165 DOI: 10.1039/b418038k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Muramic acid (Mur) is found in bacterial peptidoglycan (PG) whereas 3-hydroxy fatty acids (3-OH FAs) are found in Gram-negative bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Thus Mur and 3-OH FAs serve as markers to assess bacterial levels in indoor air. An initial survey, in a school, demonstrated that the levels of dust, PG and LPS (pmol m(-3)) were each much higher in occupied rooms than in the same rooms when unoccupied. In each instance, the Mur content of dust was increased and the hydroxy fatty acid distribution changed similarly suggesting an alteration in the bacterial population. Here, findings are compared with results from two additional schools. Follow-up aerosol monitoring by particle size was also performed for the first time for all 3 schools. The particle size distribution was shown to be quite different in occupied versus unoccupied schoolrooms. Within individual classrooms, concentrations of airborne particles [greater-than-or-equal]0.8 [micro sign]m in diameter, and CO(2) were correlated. This suggests that the increased levels of larger particles are responsible for elevation of bacterial markers during occupation. Release of culturable and non-culturable bacteria or bacterial aggregates from children (e.g. from flaking skin) might explain this phenomenon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alvin Fox
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
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12
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Sebastian A, Szponar B, Larsson L. Characterization of the microbial community in indoor environments by chemical marker analysis: an update and critical evaluation. INDOOR AIR 2005; 15 Suppl 9:20-6. [PMID: 15910526 DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0668.2005.00341.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED We published recently an integrated procedure for applying chemical marker analysis to characterize the microbiology of indoor environments comprising a scheme for extraction and analysis of markers of endotoxin, peptidoglycan/bacterial biomass, and fungal biomass. In the present paper, we report some significant improvements and also new possibilities of the described approach. We found that while 3-hydroxy fatty acids (3-OH FAs) of 10-14 carbon chain lengths are useful endotoxin markers, longer 3-OH FAs (i.e. with 16 carbon atoms and more) may rather serve as markers of Actinobacteria. We introduced 13C-labeled 3-hydroxytridecanoic acid, from labeled Pectinatus cerevisiiphilus, as an internal standard to improve quantification of the 3-OH FAs in the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. Finally, in experiments aiming to identify a suitable method for collection of house dust for chemical marker analysis, we found that the marker compositions of dusts sedimented on plexiglass plates that were spatially well-distributed in a studied room at different heights above floor level, were undistinguishable. This type of sampling thus appears to be well suited for use, e.g. in epidemiological studies. In summary, the presented work describes important new capabilities of chemical marker analysis in defining human exposure to microorganisms in indoor environments. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS We are developing an integrated methodology for characterizing the microbiology of indoor environments where specific microbial monomeric constituents in building materials and inhalable house dust particles are determined by using mass spectrometry-based methods. The methodology should represent a firm basis in research aiming to relate microbial exposure indoors to well-being and health.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Sebastian
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Dermatology and Infection, University of Lund, Lund, Sweden
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Sebastian A, Larsson L. Characterization of the microbial community in indoor environments: a chemical-analytical approach. Appl Environ Microbiol 2003; 69:3103-9. [PMID: 12788704 PMCID: PMC161488 DOI: 10.1128/aem.69.6.3103-3109.2003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
An integrated procedure is presented whereby gas chromatography-ion trap mass spectrometry is used to determine chemical markers of gram-negative bacterial lipopolysaccharide (3-hydroxy fatty acids with 10 to 18 carbon atoms), gram-positive bacteria (branched-chain fatty acids with 15 and 17 carbon atoms), bacterial peptidoglycan (muramic acid), and fungal biomass (ergosterol) in samples of settled house dust. A hydrolysate of (13)C-labeled cyanobacterial cells is used as an internal standard for the first three markers. These analyses require two dust samples, one for 3-OH fatty acids, branched-chain fatty acids, and muramic acid and another for ergosterol. The method may be used to characterize microbial communities in environmental samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Sebastian
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Dermatology and Infection, University of Lund, S-223 62 Lund, Sweden
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14
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Keinänen MM, Korhonen LK, Martikainen PJ, Vartiainen T, Miettinen IT, Lehtola MJ, Nenonen K, Pajunen H, Kontro MH. Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric detection of 2- and 3-hydroxy fatty acids as methyl esters from soil, sediment and biofilm. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 2003; 783:443-51. [PMID: 12482487 DOI: 10.1016/s1570-0232(02)00713-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Hydroxy fatty acids (OH-FAs) can be used in the characterization of microbial communities, especially Gram-negative bacteria. We prepared methyl esters of 2- and 3-OH-FAs from the lipid extraction residue of soil, sediment, and biofilm samples without further purification or derivatization of hydroxyl groups. OH-FA methyl esters were analyzed using a gas chromatograph equipped with a mass selective detector (GC-MS). The ions followed in MS were m/z 103 for 3-OH-FAs and m/z 90 and M-59 for 2-OH-FAs. The rapid determination of 3- and 2-OH-FAs concomitantly with phospholipid fatty acids provided more detailed information on the microbial communities present in soil, sediment, and drinking water biofilm.
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Affiliation(s)
- M M Keinänen
- Department of Environmental Health, National Public Health Institute, P.O. Box 95, FIN-70701, Kuopio, Finland.
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15
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Fox A. Chemical markers for bacteria in extraterrestrial samples. THE ANATOMICAL RECORD 2002; 268:180-5. [PMID: 12382316 DOI: 10.1002/ar.10152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Interplanetary missions to collect pristine Martian surface samples for analysis of organic molecules, and to search for evidence of life, are in the planning phases. The only extraterrestrial samples currently on Earth are lunar dust and rocks, brought back by the Apollo (U.S.) and Luna (Soviet Union) missions to the moon, and meteorites. Meteorites are contaminated when they pass through the Earth's atmosphere, and during environmental exposure on Earth. Lunar fines have been stored on Earth for over 30 years under conditions designed to avoid chemical but not microbiological contamination. It has been extremely difficult to draw firm conclusions about the origin of chemicals (including amino acids) in extraterrestrial samples. Of particular concern has been the possibility of bacterial contamination. Recent work using state-of-the-art gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) has dramatically lowered the chemical background, allowing a clear demonstration that lunar fines are remarkably different from terrestrial dust in that they generally lack certain chemical markers (muramic acid and 3-hydroxy fatty acids) characteristic of Earth's bacteria. Thus, lunar dust might be used as a negative control, in conjunction with GC-MS/MS analyses, in future analytical studies of lunar dust and meteorites. Such analyses may also be important in studies designed to search for the presence of life on Mars.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alvin Fox
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of South Carolina, Columbia 29208, USA.
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16
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Fox A. Chapter 23 A current perspective on analysis of sugar monomers using GC-MS and GC-MS/MS. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2002. [DOI: 10.1016/s0301-4770(02)80048-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2023]
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Bal K, Larsson L. New and simple procedure for the determination of muramic acid in chemically complex environments by gas chromatography-ion trap tandem mass spectrometry. JOURNAL OF CHROMATOGRAPHY. B, BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES AND APPLICATIONS 2000; 738:57-65. [PMID: 10778926 DOI: 10.1016/s0378-4347(99)00494-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
A gas chromatographic-ion trap tandem mass spectrometric method was developed for the quantification of muramic acid, a marker of bacterial peptidoglycan, in environmental and clinical specimens. Samples (bacteria, house dust and urine) were heated in methanolic hydrochloric acid overnight and extracted with hexane for removal of hydrophobic compounds. The aqueous phase was evaporated and heated in acetic anhydride and pyridine after which the product, the acetate derivative, was washed with dilute hydrochloric acid and water. The described method is both rapid and simple to apply, and produces a stable derivative. It should become widely used for measuring peptidoglycan in chemically complex environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Bal
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Medical Microbiology, Section of Bacteriology, University of Lund, Sweden
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18
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Fox A. Carbohydrate profiling of bacteria by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and their trace detection in complex matrices by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. J Chromatogr A 1999; 843:287-300. [PMID: 10399857 DOI: 10.1016/s0021-9673(98)00884-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Bacterial cellular polysaccharides are composed of a variety of sugar monomers. These sugars serve as chemical markers to identify specific species or genera or to determine their physiological status. Some of these markers can also be used for trace detection of bacteria or their constituents in complex clinical or environmental matrices. Analyses are performed, in our hands, employing hydrolysis followed by the alditol acetate derivatization procedure. Substantial improvements have been made to sample preparation including simplification and computer-controlled automation. For characterization of whole cell bacterial hydrolysates, sugars are analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Simple chromatograms are generated using selected ion monitoring (SIM). Using total ion GC-MS, sugars can be readily identified. In more complex clinical and environmental samples, markers for bacteria are present at sufficiently low concentrations that more advanced instrumentation, gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS-MS), is preferred for optimal analysis. Using multiple reaction monitoring, MS-MS is used (replacing more conventional SIM) to ignore extraneous chromatographic peaks. Triple quadrupole and ion trap GC-MS-MS instruments have both been used successfully. Absolute chemical identification of sugar markers at trace levels is achieved, using MS-MS, by the product spectrum.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Fox
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of South Carolina (USC), School of Medicine, Columbia 29208, USA.
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20
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Saraf A, Larsson L, Burge H, Milton D. Quantification of ergosterol and 3-hydroxy fatty acids in settled house dust by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry: comparison with fungal culture and determination of endotoxin by a Limulus amebocyte lysate assay. Appl Environ Microbiol 1997; 63:2554-9. [PMID: 9212406 PMCID: PMC168553 DOI: 10.1128/aem.63.7.2554-2559.1997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Ergosterol and 3-hydroxy fatty acids, chemical markers for fungal biomass and the endotoxin of gram-negative bacteria, respectively, may be useful in studies of health effects of organic dusts, including domestic house dust. This paper reports a method for the combined determination of ergosterol and 3-hydroxy fatty acids in a single dust sample and a comparison of these chemical biomarkers determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with results from fungal culture and Limulus assay. Analyses of replicate house dust samples resulted in correlations of 0.91 (ergosterol in six replicates; P < 0.01) and 0.94 (3-hydroxy fatty acids in nine replicates; P < 0.001). The amounts of ergosterol (range, 2 to 16.5 ng/mg of dust) correlated with those of total culturable fungi (range, 6 to 1,400 CFU/mg of dust) in 17 samples, (r = 0.65; P < 0.005). The amounts of endotoxin (range, 11 to 243 endotoxin units/mg of dust) measured with a modified chromogenic Limulus assay correlated with those of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) determined from 3-hydroxy fatty acid analysis of 15 samples. The correlation coefficient depended on the chain lengths of 3-hydroxy acids used to compute the LPS content. The correlation was high (r = 0.88 +/- 0.01; P < 0.001) when fatty acid chains of 10 to 14 carbon atoms were included; the correlation was much lower when hydroxy acids of 16- or 18-carbon chains were included. In conclusion, the results of the described extraction and analysis procedure for ergosterol and 3-hydroxy fatty acids are reproducible, and the results can be correlated with fungal culture and endotoxin activity of organic dust samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Saraf
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Lund, Sweden
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Larsson L, Saraf A. Use of gas chromatography-ion trap tandem mass spectrometry for the detection and characterization of microorganisms in complex samples. Mol Biotechnol 1997; 7:279-87. [PMID: 9219241 DOI: 10.1007/bf02740818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) can be applied to detect and characterize microorganisms in clinical and environmental samples, and microbial contaminants in biotechnological production cultures. With this approach, unique microbial monomeric compounds, known as chemical markers, are used as analytes. In the present article, two GC-MS-based techniques, viz. GC-ion trap tandem MS (GC-MS-MS) and conventional quadrupole GC-MS used in the selected ion monitoring mode, were compared regarding their ability to detect 3-hydroxy fatty acids, muramic acid, and ergosterol (markers for endotoxin, peptidoglycan, and fungal biomass, respectively) in complex matrices. When using GC-MS-MS, daughter ion spectra were obtained for all markers present in amounts close to the detection limit of the GC-MS. Ion-trap GC-MS-MS shows great promise as a chemical marker analysis technique for application in clinical diagnosis, occupational and public health care, and biotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Larsson
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Lund, Sweden.
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22
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Monitoring muramic acid in air (after alditol acetate derivatization) using a gas chromatograph-ion trap tandem mass spectrometer. J Microbiol Methods 1996. [DOI: 10.1016/s0167-7012(96)00939-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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23
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Recent progress in the analysis of sugar monomers from complex matrices using chromatography in conjunction with mass spectrometry or stand-alone tandem mass spectrometry. J Chromatogr A 1996. [DOI: 10.1016/0021-9673(95)00335-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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24
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Mielniczuk Z, Mielniczuk E, Larsson L. Determination of muramic acid in organic dust by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. JOURNAL OF CHROMATOGRAPHY. B, BIOMEDICAL APPLICATIONS 1995; 670:167-72. [PMID: 7493076 DOI: 10.1016/0378-4347(95)00152-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
A method is described for the quantitation of muramic acid, a marker of bacterial peptidoglycan, in organic dust. House dust samples were hydrolysed in hydrochloric acid and then extracted with hexane to remove hydrophobic compounds. The aqueous phase was evaporated, heated in a silylation reagent to form trimethylsilyl derivatives, and analysed by gas chromatography--mass spectrometry. The muramic acid derivative gave two peaks upon injection into the gas chromatograph--mass spectrometer. Injection of 10 pg of the derivative gave a signal-to-noise ratio of 17 for the dominating peak when using selected ion monitoring in the electron impact mode, and a linear calibration curve was achieved upon analysis of samples containing 5-1500 ng of muramic acid. In a house dust sample, 40 ng of muramic acid was found per mg of dust; the coefficient of variation was 8.2% (n = 6, 1.2 mg of dust analysed). The described method is rapid and simple to apply, and should therefore become widely used for measuring peptidoglycan in many types of environmental samples, including organic dust.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z Mielniczuk
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Lund, Sweden
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Axelsson BO, Saraf A, Larsson L. Determination of ergosterol in organic dust by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. JOURNAL OF CHROMATOGRAPHY. B, BIOMEDICAL APPLICATIONS 1995; 666:77-84. [PMID: 7655624 DOI: 10.1016/0378-4347(94)00553-h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
A gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric method was developed for the determination of ergosterol in organic dust. Samples were hydrolyzed under alkaline conditions, and the hydrolysate was extracted, purified on a silica-gel column, and subjected to derivatization. The limit of detection of the trimethylsilyl ether derivative of ergosterol was approximately 10 pg and that of the tert.-butyldimethylsilyl ether derivative was approximately 20 pg (injected amounts). House dust contained 6-45 micrograms ergosterol/g and air from a pig barn contained 0.2-0.3 ng ergosterol/liter. The proposed method can be used as a complement or alternative to microscopy and culturing for measuring fungal biomass in air-borne organic dust.
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Affiliation(s)
- B O Axelsson
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Lund, Sweden
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26
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Fox A, Wright L, Fox K. Gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for trace detection of muramic acid, a peptidoglycan chemical marker, in organic dust. J Microbiol Methods 1995. [DOI: 10.1016/0167-7012(94)00060-k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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27
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Larsson L. Determination of microbial chemical markers by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry--potential for diagnosis and studies on metabolism in situ. Review article. APMIS 1994; 102:161-9. [PMID: 8185883 DOI: 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1994.tb04861.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Different strategies for the application of gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) in medical microbiology research are discussed. GC can be used to determine specific microbial monomeric constituents and metabolites, so-called chemical markers, in cultures of microorganisms; in particular, analysis of cellular fatty acids has proven useful for species characterization and identification. GC-MS can be applied to study chemical markers directly in complex environmental samples, as exemplified by the analysis of airborne organic material as regards muramic acid (marker of peptidoglycan), 3-hydroxy acids (endotoxins), and ergosterol (fungal biomass). This methodological approach represents an alternative to various biological assays for characterization of airborne microbial structures, and forms a firm basis for correlating inhalation of such structures and development of symptoms. Direct GC-MS analysis of clinical samples provides possibilities for diagnosis (here exemplified by chiral separation of urine D- and L-arabinitol in disseminated candidiasis) and insight into microbial metabolism in the infected host (exemplified by observed indications of mycobacterial build-up of mycolic acids in vivo), with implications for drug development. Continued developments in MS technology will allow rapid advances to be made in GC-MS research in microbiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Larsson
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Lund, Sweden
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