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This study focuses on a general method that has been developed for the identification of both polar- and nonpolar pesticidespolar pesticides in a known solution from EPA 8151 Herbicide acid mix by Merck including the ordered non-polar pesticide Prosulfocarb. The EPA-solution contains 16 analytes that has been completely identified when derivatized and spiked in acetone. The solution has also been spiked in blood samples, resulting in five calibration solutions in the range of 0,01 – 2,5 µg/g, followed by quantification. Identification of dinoseb and bentazone, spiked in blood, failed whereas the remaining 145 analytes were identified. The method uses headspace (HS) solid phase microextraction (SPME) in combination with gas chromatography (GC) with mass spectrometry (MS) in both scan and selected ion monitoring mode. A standard extraction- and derivatization procedure has been performed for the analysis of alcohols, phenols, and carboxylic acids with help from a protocol regarding the analysis of ethylene glycol in blood. Samples were introduced on the column with splitless injection where 1 µl were injected with an injector temperature of 250oC. Effective separations were achieved by using GS-GasPro PLOT-column (30 m x i.d. 320 µm x df 0 µm) in combination with a temperature programme that started at an initial temperature of 80oC (1 min) that increased by 10oC/min up to 280oC (1 min). The limit of detection (LOD) for the pesticides, spiked blood, were 0,01 – 2,5 µg/g where the lowest limit of 0,01 µg/g meant difficult identification whereas a greater identification was made at 0,05 µg/g. No identification was succeeded for the most polar substances in the forms of amines and amides in combination with carboxylic acid. Identification was however made for the less polar pesticides in the forms of alcohols, phenols, and carboxylic acids. The method must be further developed to identify the highly polar pesticides in different chemical classes. The current method can be used in occurring intoxications and in autopsy cases.

The development of a biologic protein involves different stages and becomes a highly complex process which can be costly and time consuming to scale up for industrial production. Therefore, optimization is a necessary part of the production process development to lower the production expenses.An on-going project is working on upscaling the production of a protein derived from mussel adhesive proteins (MAPs) which has great properties to be used as a pharmaceutical drug or in medical devices. The protein is expressed in a bacterial host cell and the necessary post translational modifications (PTMs) are done in-vitro using enzymes. The work presented in this report was done to optimize both the protein production in lab scale bioreactors and the enzymatic reaction using an immobilized prolyl-4-hydroxylase (P4H) which does a post translational modification on prolyl-residues. Additionally, an interaction study was conducted to better understand the hydroxylation using the prolyl-4-hydroxylase.For the bioreactor optimization four initial trials were performed testing different growth and induction temperatures and also comparing exponential to linear feeding. From these trials it appeared that having 30 ℃ growth overnight and induction at the same temperature in combination with an exponential feeding rate gave the best results. The modifications done by the prolyl-4-hydroxylase were analysed by LC-MS and suggest that longer incubation time and more immobilized protein gives more modifications in the tested ranges and the possibilities of reusing the immobilized proteins looks promising. No conclusive data was discovered for the optimal substrate concentration. The interaction study revealed the importance of reagents used for catalysis with the enzyme to be present for interaction to occur, however more work needs to be done to discover an accurate KD for the interaction.

This research is done to determine the distribution of flavonoids in diverse varieties of onions (commercial and wild onions). Reflux extraction method was done on dried onions and the abstracts were analyzed subsequently by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS). Statistical calculations were done to see if there are significant differences in the varieties of onions studied from the chromatographic profiles obtained. The chromatograms obtained were patterned using visual observations, scatter plot study, correlation co-efficient, and ANOVA to evaluate the significant difference of the distribution of flavonoids in varieties of onions. The organic white onions seem to have closer flavonoids profile to that of natural wild onions with a corelation coefficient of 0.99 from HPLC data and 0.88 from the GCMS data. The ANOVA results also support these conclusions. However, natural wild onions tend to have more constituents that can be beneficial.

Rapid, portable detection of biological threat agents such as Bacillus anthracis endospores (“spores”) is extremely important given the real and perceived threats of bioterrorism. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) is an excellent general means for chemical detection, although special sample preparation and specialized equipment are required to employ GC-MS for detecting biological agents such as spores in the field. A GC sample introduction probe consisting of a helical wire that can be retracted inside a syringe needle, called a coiled wire filament (CWF), was employed as a simple, passively-heated means to introduce the mixture of spores plus reagents for thermochemolysis methylation (TCM) into the pre-heated GC inlet. There, reactions between spore biomarkers and the TCM reagent mixture occur between 250-290°C. At these conditions, monomethyl sulfate salt mixtures are convenient and efficient TCM reagents for the rapid conversion of a key unique spore biomarker, dipicolinic acid (DPA), to its dimethyl ester (Me2DPA). By this process, Me2DPA yields from spores were quantitatively assessed for different combinations of tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMA+OH−), sodium hydroxide (Na+OH−), and hydrogen monomethyl sulfate (H+MeSO4−). The best reagent mixture was found by varying the combinations of the ions within the neutral or basic system containing TMA+, Na+, OH−, and MeSO4− according to a novel scheme for design of experiments termed ionic mixtures design of experiments (IMDOE). A combination of the above ions was found that is near-quantitative in its methylation of DPA to Me2DPA; this mixture contained a 1:3:1:3 mole ratio of TMA+:Na+:OH−:MeSO4−. This yield of Me2DPA was approximately a ten-fold increase over the best performance observed at the same conditions with tetramethylammonium hydroxide alone, the TCM reagent widely-used for GC. The reactions involving MeSO4− and TMA+ as methylating reagents, plus relevant hydrolysis and methylation reactions involving acid and base plus water and methanol, were investigated. An overall model is presented and mechanisms are proposed for reasons why basic mixtures of MeSO4− salts are more effective in methylating DPA compared to TMA+ salts at the conditions employed.

A simple method was developed for detection and differentiation of five Tier 1 bacterial agents, including Bacillus anthracis, Francisella tularensis, Yersinia pestis, Burkholderia pseudomallei and Burkholderia mallei as well as their closely related near neighbors by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Generally, different classes of compounds can be used as biomarkers for biowarfare agent detection, including nucleic acids (i.e., DNA or RNA), proteins (i.e., antibodies), carbohydrates (i.e., sugars), lipopolysaccharides, lipids (i.e., fatty acids) and small molecules. One-step thermochemolysis (TCM) was developed to provide GC-MS detectable biomarker signatures, including sugars, fatty acids and small molecules. Solid phase micro-extraction (SPME) was used for biomarker extraction, concentration and introduction into the GC-MS. Statistical algorithms were constructed using a combination of biomarkers for the five agents, which were robust against different growth conditions (medium and temperature). A general GC-MS temperature program was developed for all five Tier 1 bacteria. The total analysis time, including TCM, SPME extraction and GC-MS, is approximately 40 min. The total-ion chromatograms are very different for the five species. The final goal of this research was to develop an accurate, fast, simple, robust and automated method for field application. Therefore, an automated sample preparation system was designed, constructed and tested. The system automatically controls the movement of sample vials from one position to another, crimping of septum caps onto the vials, precise delivery of reagents and TCM reaction times and temperatures. The specific operations of introduction of sample vials, SPME sampling, injection into the GC-MS system and ejection of used vials from the system were performed manually in this study, although they can be integrated into the automated system. Manual SPME sampling is performed by following visual and audible signal prompts for inserting the fiber into and retracting it from the sampling port. A rotating carousel design allows for simultaneous sample collection, reaction, biomarker extraction and analysis of sequential samples. Bacillus species were used to test this autoreactor, and 96% of the samples were correctly identified using a statistical algorithm. This research applies not only to the rapid identification of Tier 1 agents after a biological attack, but should also benefit clinical diagnosis, which is essential to effective treatment.

This study provides chemical confirmation for the use of resinous plant exudates in mortuary contexts in Roman Britain. Analysis of amorphous masses, adhering residues and grave deposits using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry has revealed terpenoid biomarkers in sixteen inhumation and two cremation burials. The natural products characterized include European Pinaceae (conifer) resins, Pistacia spp. (mastic/terebinth) resins from the Mediterranean or the Levant and Boswellia spp. (frankincense) gum-resins from southern Arabia or eastern Africa. In addition, traces of a balsamic resin, probably Liquidambar orientalis, have been identified. A correlation between the use of these exotic exudates and interment in substantial, often multiple, containers with high-quality textiles and grave goods was observed. Theoretical consideration of this imported rite illuminates the multiplicity of roles played by resins/gum-resins in the mortuary sphere. The material properties of these highly scented substances speak to the biological reality of the decomposing body and to the socially constructed identity of the individual. On a practical level, they acted as temporary preservatives and masked the odour of decay. As social signifiers, they denoted the status of the deceased and promoted remembrance through conspicuous consumption and sensory impact. Encoded with ritual meaning, they purified the body and facilitated the final rite of passage to the afterlife. The recovery of these resinous traces provides us with new insights into the treatment of the body in the Roman period and establishes fresh links between the remote province of Britannia and the remainder of the Empire. / Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC). / Vol. II, which contains supplementary material files, is not available online.

(1) Introduction: Sulfonates, which can be diet- or host-derived, are a class of compounds detected in the gut, are involved in host–microbiome interactions and have several health effects. Our aim was to develop a method to quantify five of the sulfonates in the intestine and apply it in a simplified human microbiome model. These were taurine, its metabolic precursor cysteate and one of its degradation products isethionate, as well as sulfoquinovose and one of its most relevant degradation products 2,3-dihydroxy-1-propanesulfonate. (2) Methods: An extraction and sample preparation method was developed, without the need for derivatization. To detect and quantify the extracted sulfonates, a multiplexed LC-MS/MS-MRM method was established. (3) Results: The accuracy and precision of the method were within GLP-accepted parameters. To apply this method in a pilot study, we spiked either taurine or sulfoquinovose into an in vitro simplified human microbiota model with and without Bilophila wadsworthia, a known sulfonate utilizer. The results revealed that only the culture with B. wadsworthia was able to degrade taurine, with isethionate as an intermediate. After spiking the communities with sulfoquinovose, the results revealed that the simplified human microbiome model was able to degrade sulfoquinovose to 2,3-dihydroxypropane-1-sulfonate, which was probably catalyzed by Escherichia coli. In the community with B. wadsworthia, the 2,3-dihydroxypropane-1-sulfonate produced was further degraded by B. wadsworthia to sulfide. (4) Conclusions: We successfully developed a method for sulfonate quantification and applied it in a first pilot study.

The naturally occurring dipeptide carnosine (-alanyl-L-histidine) has beneficial effects in different diseases. It is also frequently used as a food supplement to improve exercise performance and because of its anti-aging effects. Nevertheless, after oral ingestion, the dipeptide is not detectable in human serum because of rapid degradation by serum carnosinase. At the same time, intact carnosine is excreted in urine up to five hours after intake. Therefore, an unknown compartment protecting the dipeptide from degradation has long been hypothesized. Considering that erythrocytes may constitute this compartment, we investigated the uptake and intracellular amounts of carnosine in human erythrocytes cultivated in the presence of the dipeptide and human serum using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. In addition, we studied carnosine’s effect on ATP production in red blood cells and on their response to oxidative stress. Our experiments revealed uptake of carnosine into erythrocytes and protection from carnosinase degradation. In addition, no negative effect on ATP production or defense against oxidative stress was observed. In conclusion, our results for the first time demonstrate that erythrocytes can take up carnosine, and, most importantly, thereby prevent its degradation by human serum carnosinase.