Discoveries Archives - Page 2 of 3

Current wastewater treatment plants often struggle to effectively remove antibiotics and their transformation products.

Discoveries

Biotransformation of antibiotics in wastewater: A fungal solution investigated with SIRIUS

Antibiotics are crucial for fighting bacterial infections, but the rise of antibiotic resistance poses a serious threat to public health. Beyond healthcare, the presence of antibiotic residues in wastewater exacerbates the problem. Conventional treatment methods often fall short in adequately removing these compounds, perpetuating resistance. Biological processes, such as biotransformation by fungi, have emerged as promising alternatives. Researchers investigated the potential of fungi to transform antibiotics, using SIRIUS and CSI:FingerID to identify degradation products.

Franziska Hufsky 2024-02-09 1 Comment

A forest bathed in sunlight. Lignin is essential for stability of wood.

Discoveries

Adding value to by-products: Unraveling the complex structure of lignin with SIRIUS

Despite being one of Earth’s most abundant polymeric organic compounds, lignin is often considered a lower-value byproduct in industrial processes. Converting lignin into valuable chemicals or biomaterials requires a thorough structural characterisation of depolymerised products. This non-targeted analysis method involving 2D liquid chromatography and high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry uses SIRIUS in versatile ways to unravel the complex structures of depolymerized lignin.

Franziska Hufsky 2024-02-01 2 Comments

Discoveries

Life at the bottom of the sea: Chemical classes of exometabolites investigated with CANOPUS

Examining seawater presents an enduring challenge due to the complexity of molecules present in trace amounts and their dynamic nature. The lowest ecological region of the sea is inhabited by holobionts, such as sponges, which significantly shape the marine chemical landscape through the release of diverse exometabolites. In addressing the need to capture these molecules immediately after release, a novel underwater device was developed, allowing in situ collection and enrichment without harming organisms. To test the device, researchers investigated exometabolites of sponges in the Mediterranean sea using untargeted mass spectrometry and CANOPUS to understand the chemical class distribution. This approach holds promise for studying endangered species in marine protected areas, assessing seasonal variations in exometabolite production, and monitoring toxins or human impacts in the marine environment.

Franziska Hufsky 2023-11-30 No Comments

Discoveries

Hydrate your skin with “biotics”: Understanding the impact of pre/postbiotics on skin health

Our skin, beyond being a physical barrier, hosts a diverse community of microorganisms known as the skin microbiota. “Biotics” have gained attention for their potential to enhance the skin’s health, though their exact mode of action is still unclear. MS-based metabolomics has emerged as a powerful tool to characterize the chemical composition of the skin surface and correlate it with microbial communities. Using CSI:FingerID, researchers identified changes in the skin metabolome that are more pronounced than changes in the microbial composition, suggesting that even subtle shifts in microbial abundance can lead to significant effects on the skin.

Franziska Hufsky 2023-09-22 1 Comment

Discoveries

Potential risk of impurities in pesticides: Elucidating structurally related impurities using ZODIAC

Thiacloprid is a first-generation, widely used, neonicotinoid insecticide. Its persistence in the environment and potential adverse effects on human health have raised significant concerns. Elucidating the impurity profile of pesticides is crucial for assessing their environmental impact and potential risks, and setting acceptable limits for impurities. Using enhanced molecular formula identification with ZODIAC, researchers demonstrate an approach for identifying structurally related impurities in pesticides.

Franziska Hufsky 2023-09-11 No Comments

Discoveries

The sky is burning: Elucidating brown carbon composition using CSI:FingerID

Brown carbon, arising from the combustion of organic matter, exerts a significant influence on atmospheric radiation and global climate. To fully comprehend its impact on atmospheric processes, a thorough characterization of the light-absorbing brown carbon molecules is imperative. Using CSI:FingerID, researchers have successfully annotated 100 brown carbon chromophores, 33 of which have never been reported before. Through the identification and characterization of these chromophores in diverse atmospheric samples, we gain invaluable insights into their origins, behavior, and the profound implications they have on radiative forcing, cloud formation, and the intricate web of global climate change.

Franziska Hufsky 2023-07-05 No Comments

Discoveries

Green silver: Unveiling the role of biomolecules in plant-based nanoparticle synthesis with SIRIUS

Metal nanoparticles from gold, silver, iron, copper, and others, range in size from 1 to 100 nanometers and have a broad variety of applications in computing, optics, cosmetics, food industry, medicine, and water treatment. Silver nanoparticles, known for their antimicrobial properties, are effective for remediating contaminated waters. Plant extracts are used as reducing agents for the environmentally friendly synthesis of silver nanoparticles. To improve this synthesis, identifying the biomolecules involved in the process is crucial. UHPLC-QTOF-MS and SIRIUS identified the key phenolic compounds involved in the silver reduction.

Franziska Hufsky 2023-06-28 No Comments

Discoveries

Befriend your competitor: CSI:FingerID identifies metabolite linked to dual-species biofilm pathogenesis in cystic fibrosis

In the world of microbiology, there’s an ongoing battle between different bacterial species competing for survival and dominance. However, under certain conditions, two species can actually thrive together in a dual-species biofilm. The cooperation between P. aeruginosa and S. aureus in cystic fibrosis leads to increased disease severity. But so far, only little is known about the chemical communication mechanisms between those bacteria. CSI:FingerID identifies a metabolite that could be related to the increased pathogenesis of this dual-species biofilm in cystic fibrosis.

Franziska Hufsky 2023-06-14 No Comments

Discoveries

It’s in your breath: pediatric asthma diagnosis using CSI:FingerID compound annotation

Pediatric asthma poses diagnostic challenges due to its variable presentation. Breath analysis could be a game-changer in pediatric allergic asthma management. By identifying unique exhaled metabolic signatures using SESI-MS and CSI:FingerID, this cutting-edge approach distinguishes children with allergic asthma from healthy controls, aiding accurate diagnosis and personalized treatment.

Franziska Hufsky 2023-05-26 No Comments