Tags: Analytical Seminar


Two Tales of Measuring More than Mass with Mass Spectrometers: Differentiating Hydroxyproline Isomers and Understanding Ionic Liquid Degradation

We are broadly interested in using mass spectrometry-based platforms to learn more than just the mass about chemical species. During this talk two examples of this will be presented. In the first, infrared ion spectroscopy will be presented as one path toward direct structural probing of gas-phase ions, with the goal of isomer differentiation. Hydroxyproline isomers will be presented as a case study toward this effect. In the second, our work to…


In vitro Insights of Exogenous Fatty acids and FASII Inhibitors on Lipid Profiles and Antibiotic Susceptibilities in Staphylococcus aureus

The prevalence of hospital-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections is on the rise, primarily due to the rapid development of resistance mechanisms by S. aureus against commonly used antibiotics.1 Daptomycin, the last-resort antibiotic for MRSA, has encountered challenges as studies reveal acquired resistance by S. aureus.2 FASII is a distinct metabolic pathway associated in synthesis of fatty acids through a series…


Connecting Branched Isomer Distributions and Membrane Characteristics in Daptomycin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Using RPLC-IM-MS

Staphylococcus aureus is a common cause of hospital and community-acquired infections. Although uncommon, resistance to daptomycin is mediated by mutations in genes associated with the regulation, synthesis, or relocation of fatty acids and membrane lipids. These mutations influence physical properties such as cell surface charge, cell membrane fluidity, and daptomycin resistance, however, recent results were unable to provide an in-depth…


The MAW Method: A Rapid Single-Phase Extraction for Bacterial Lipidomics

The increasing incidence of antibiotic resistance underscores the pressing need for studies aimed at understanding its underlying mechanisms. Bacterial membrane lipids provide an avenue for studies, as they are crucial for maintaining the integrity and functionality of bacterial cell membranes. However, in-depth studies on the involvement of bacterial membrane lipids require working with numerous bacterial samples, which necessitates the need…


Intrinsically Disordered Proteins (IDPs): NMR Studies of IDPs

Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) - polypeptides that lack a defined three-dimensional structure – are commonplace in eukaryotic proteomes and often have critical impact on correct functioning of biological processes. IDPs can mediate low affinity interactions between proteins and serve as a scaffold or intermediate binding agent. Malfunctions in IDPs can lead to protein aggregation and various diseases, such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson’s,…


Direct Mass Spectrometry Technologies for Intraoperative Tissue Analysis and Surgical Margin Evaluation

Surgical resection remains a primary treatment for solid tumors. However, achieving tumor-free margins during surgery is challenging. Residual cancer cells at surgical margins are associated with increased recurrence and reduced survival rates. Intraoperative evaluation of surgical margins could enable more complete resection and reduce positive margins. Traditional frozen section histopathology has limitations including time-consumption,…


Chemical and Physical Properties of Surfactants in Seawater and Aerosol Particles and Their Influence on Particle Hygroscopic Growth

The size and composition of atmospheric aerosol particles modulate their interactions with solar radiation, and thus their influence on climate and visibility. The radiative effects of aerosol particles remain a large uncertainty in accurately modeling and predicting current and future climates. Recent work has demonstrated the presence of organic surfactant molecules in atmospheric aerosol particles, and their sources and transformations in the…


Characterization of Extracellular Vesicles Derived from Red Blood Cells Using Vibrational Spectroscopy and Imaging

Richard A. Dluhy,1 Amareshwari Konutham1, Shaiju S Nazeer1, Joo-Yeun Oh2, Amit Gaggar2, and Rakesh P. Patel2,  1Department of Chemistry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 352942Department of Pathology and Center for Free Radical Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294 Degradative changes that occur during storage of red blood cells (RBCs) include hemolysis, followed by formation of…


Effects of Production Conditions and Environmental Aging on Solid-Phase and Dissolvable Pyrogenic Organic Matter Characteristics

Pyrogenic organic matter (PyOM, aka ‘black carbon’) generated via the incomplete combustion of biomass or fossil fuels is an important component in soil, atmospheric, sedimentary, and aquatic environments. In particular, the condensed aromatic compounds (ConAC) in PyOM are slow-cycling rendering them important to global carbon cycles and the sequestration of carbon in soils. Recently, the dissolvable component of PyOM (PyDOM) has received…


The Pursuit of How Structure Impacts Function: from Lipids to Oligonucleotides

The functional role of a biological molecule hinges on its unique structure. The context by which structure impacts function is a vital piece of information that can provide insight into underlying biological processes. One set of biological molecules that have received renewed interest for their biological significance and potential role as markers of cellular dysfunction are lipids. Cellular lipids have significant potential to inform on…
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