Application of novel Ms approaches to environmental sampling.

“分子粪便学”一词通常被认为是对粪便DNA的分析。虽然这提供了有价值的信息，但有相当大的范围可以扩展分析的范围，特别是那些在表型水平上提供信息的分析。工业合作伙伴Waters Corporation （Micromass UK Ltd）是世界领先的先进质谱仪开发商，以及用于广泛生物材料采样的创新“前端”源。他们是将在该计划中使用的iKnife REIMS系统的唯一供应商。学生将在威姆斯洛最先进的研发设施完成部分培训。东道国机构和CASE合作伙伴已经完成了初步数据，证明表型数据可以轻松获得，使用一种新的采样方法（快速蒸发电离质谱法；REIMS），可以在几秒钟内从每个样本生成复杂的质谱表型，无需样品准备。rems是iKnife的基础，iKnife是一种基于对透热产生的烟雾的分析的设备，透热是通过在样品上施加高频电压在局部产生极端热量的过程。产生的烟雾已被证明具有相当丰富的化学物质，可以用来区分正常组织和肿瘤组织。我们有初步数据表明，REIMS生成的指纹可以用于啮齿动物粪便材料的多变量分析，以区分基于物种或性别的个体群体，并希望通过学术合作伙伴实验室中的REIMS装置以及先进的质谱仪来巩固这些初步调查。

The term 'molecular scatology' has normally been taken to mean the analysis of faecal DNA. Whilst this provides valuable information, there is considerable scope to extend the range of analyses, particularly to those that provide information at the phenotype level. The industrial partner, Waters Corporation (Micromass UK Ltd) are a world leading developer of advanced mass spectrometers, coupled with innovative 'front end' sources for sampling of a broad range of biological material. They are the sole supplier of the iKnife REIMS system that will be used in this programme. The student will complete part of their training at their state of the art R&D facilities in Wilmslow. The host institution and the CASE partner have already completed preliminary data that demonstrate the ease with which phenotypic data can be acquired, using a new sampling method (rapid evaporative ionisation mass spectrometry; REIMS) that can generate complex mass spectral phenotypes from each sample in a matter of seconds, with no sample preparation being needed.REIMS is the basis of the iKnife, a device that is based on analysis of the smoke produce by diathermy, the process whereby extreme heat is generated locally through high frequency voltages applied across a sample. The smoke that is generated has been demonstrated to have considerable chemical richness, and can be used to differentiate, for example, normal and tumour tissue. We have preliminary data that show that a REIMS-generated fingerprint can be used in multivariate analyses of rodent faecal material to differentiate groups of individuals, based on species or sex, and wish to consolidate these initial investigations using a REIMS installation in the labs of the academic partner, coupled to an advanced mass spectrometer.