E4: High resolution mass spectrometry imaging

Project description:

High resolution mass spectrometry imaging provides numerous opportunities to aid in the characterization of pathogens, host-pathogen interactions and the analysis of drug molecules. The sample is analyzed with a laser in a rasterized fashion, the step size is only a few micrometers. The sample material is ablated and ionized, allowing for the parallel detection of hundreds of chemical compounds as well as the creation of images that show the distribution of the analytes throughout the sample.  Identification of the molecules is carried out using exact mass determination and is supported by fragmentation experiments. Continued improvements in instrumentation allow for analysis and graphical representation of smaller structures while additional sample preparation steps like in-situ derivatization provide the opportunity to detect analytes at very low concentrations.

Scientific goal:

The goal of the project is the improvement and application of the available methods for the demands of the DRUID center. Especially the distribution of drug compounds, the lipidomic and metabolomic characterization of pathogens and the interaction of pathogens and hosts are important research areas.

DRUID Collaboration partners:

A2 Grünweller lab, B4 Grevelding lab, B5 Schlitzer lab, D4 Taubert lab, E1 Häberlein lab, W3 Herker lab

References E4: [1] Kadesch et al. (2020) PLoS Negl. Trop. Dis. 14(5): e0008145; [2] Morawietz et al. (2020), Front. Vet. Sci. 7, 611270; [3] Mokosch et al. (2021)  Anal Bioanal Chem 413, 2755–2766; [4] Müller et al. (2021) J. Am. Soc. Mass Spectrom.,3,32(2),465-472; [5] Spengler et al. (2015) Anal Chem 87 (1) 64-82.