human Archives - Bright Giant

Ketamine’s potential for treating neurological diseases such as depression, PTSD, and chronic pain has sparked significant interest within the medical and scientific communities. (Photo by Robina Weermeijer on Unsplash.)

Discoveries

Ketamine distribution in the brain: understanding drug metabolism with SIRIUS

Ketamine is known for its dual role as an anesthetic and an emerging antidepressant. Despite its long-standing clinical use, the metabolic pathways and pharmacokinetics of ketamine remain poorly understood. A study of ketamine metabolism in the pig brain using SIRIUS provides valuable insights into the distribution of ketamine and its metabolites in different areas of the brain.

Franziska Hufsky 2024-04-18 No Comments

Discoveries

Quality control using SIRIUS: nutrient profiles of Spirulina and co

Microalgae, such as Spirulina, are promising sources of sustainable nutrition with rich nutrient profiles. Ensuring consistent quality of microalgae as dietary supplements requires a quality control method reporting about their chemical composition. Mass spectrometry-based metabolomics coupled with SIRIUS helps identifying primary and secondary metabolites with potential health benefits, including free fatty acids, polar lipids, and pigments.

Franziska Hufsky 2024-03-25 No Comments

Microbial breakdown, facilitated by microorganisms like bacteria and fungi, plays a pivotal role in decomposing organic matter. (Image by Thomas Breher on Pixabay)

Discoveries

SIRIUS on the body farm: Investigating microbial decomposers

Microbial decomposers break down human remains, recycling nutrients and influencing ecosystem dynamics. Is there a universal microbial decomposer network that assembles in response to mammalian remains? How does the network and the cadaver-derived nutrient pool change during the decomposition process and can this microbial community change be used for predicting time since death for forensic purposes?

Franziska Hufsky 2024-02-23 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

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

Discoveries

Long-term storage in biobanks: Identifying unstable metabolites with CSI:FingerID and CANOPUS

Neonatal dried blood spots are not only important for newborn screening but also a powerful source for investigating the potential metabolic etiologies of various diseases using untargeted LC-MS-based metabolomics. So far it is unclear whether the metabolites in those samples remain stable in storage. CSI:FingerID and CANOPUS help to investigate the stability of metabolites and classes of molecules.

Franziska Hufsky 2023-05-11 No Comments