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Endotoxins in Environmental and Clinical Samples Assessed by GC-Tandem MS

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Detection of Biological Agents for the Prevention of Bioterrorism

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Abstract

Bacteria appeared on the Earth millions years before us and human evolution was triggered by the constant presence of pathogenic and symbiotic microorganisms in our surroundings. Interplay occurred between higher organism and microbial consortia residing in the host organs and on the epithelial surfaces; another natural space of bacteria–human interaction is the indoor environment where we spend the majority of our lifetime. Indoor microbial exposure affects our well-being and can result in respiratory symptoms, such as allergies and asthma, since both dead and live microorganisms and their cell constituents, including lipopolysaccharides (LPS, endotoxins), interact with our immune system. Thus, there is a demand for robust tools for qualitative and quantitative determination of the microbial communities that we are exposed to.

This work described the reproducible approach of the Gram-negative bacteria and endotoxins assessment by their specific chemical markers, 3-hydroxy fatty acids. Gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry proved to be an excellent means for specific and selective detection of bacteria/endotoxin markers in the complex matrices like indoor bioaerosol and clinical samples: blood, saliva or feces. Using this method, epidemiological studies were conducted in the field of indoor air quality research, as well as in clinical investigations when bacterial consortia were involved: in Crohn’s disease, periodontitis, and newborn gut microbial colonisation in association with allergy development.

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Acknowledgements

The work was partially supported by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Poland, grant No. NN402 392235.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Medical Microbiology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden

    Bogumila Szponar

  2. Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland

    Bogumila Szponar

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  1. Bogumila Szponar
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Correspondence to Bogumila Szponar .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Science Branch, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, St. John's, A1C 5X1, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

    Joseph Banoub

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Szponar, B. (2011). Endotoxins in Environmental and Clinical Samples Assessed by GC-Tandem MS. In: Banoub, J. (eds) Detection of Biological Agents for the Prevention of Bioterrorism. NATO Science for Peace and Security Series A: Chemistry and Biology. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9815-3_16

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