MetaboNews Masthead
Published in partnership between
TMIC and the Metabolomics Society
Issue 41 - January 2015

CONTENTS:


Online version of this newsletter:
http://www.metabonews.ca/Jan2015/MetaboNews_Jan2015.htm

Welcome to the forty-first issue of MetaboNews, a monthly newsletter published in partnership between The Metabolomics Innovation Centre (TMIC, http://www.metabolomicscentre.ca/) and the international Metabolomics Society (http://www.metabolomicssociety.org/), to keep metabolomics researchers and other professionals informed about new technologies, software, databases, events, job postings, conferences, training opportunities, interviews, publications, awards, and other newsworthy items concerning metabolomics. MetaboNews represents the one-stop-shop for the very latest and most critical news about the science of metabolomics. In this issue, we feature a Method Spotlight article on two-dimensional liquid chromatography, and a metabolomics interview with Burim Ametaj of the University of Alberta.
This issue of MetaboNews is supported by:

Metanomics Health
     
Chenomx -- Metabolite Discovery & Measurement
Metanomics Health GmbH
Chenomx Inc.

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Metabolomics Society Logo

Metabolomics Society News


CONFERENCE CORNER

11th Annual International Conference of the Metabolomics Society
Location: San Francisco, USA
Date: June 29 - July 2, 2015
Website: http://metabolomics2015.org/
Proposals for the organization of workshops at this conference are due by January 30, 2015 (see further details here)

New Members-only benefit: Are you organizing a metabolomics event?
The Metabolomics Society can provide small grants to support events that promote metabolomics. The funding may be used to provide student prizes, travel awards or catering for small events such as symposia, workshops, seminars and short-courses. The Society may also sponsor larger conferences where there is strategic opportunity to promote metabolomics science within other scientific disciplines. For more information, or to apply for funding, see: http://metabolomicssociety.org/index.php/events/event-funding

3rd Annual Practical Applications of NMR in Industry Conference (PANIC)
The Metabolomics Society is providing one travel award for an Early-Career member of the Society to attend PANIC 2015. Apply via the PANIC website.
Location: La Jolla, CA, USA
Date: February 9 - 12, 2015
Website: http://www.panicnmr.com/ 


MEMBERS CORNER

Early-career Members Network (EMN)
The EMN is dedicated to and run by early-career scientists who are members of the Metabolomics Society and are from academia, government, or industry. The network aims to provide a forum for metabolomics researchers at the start of their professional career.

The EMN is planning to establish a series of online webinars from 2015 onwards.
Save the date on your calendar for our first session of the EMN webinar series: coming to you live on Thursday 29 January 2015 (12:30 PM - 1:30 PM GMT). Session 1 of the EMN webinar series will feature our expert speaker Dr. Oscar Yanes (http://www.yaneslab.com) who will provide a cutting edge 20 minute presentation regarding the complex and multidisciplinary nature of metabolomics. The experiences and research conducted in Dr. Yanes’ laboratory will provide an invaluable insight into the challenges faced in modern metabolomics practice. In addition, there will be an opportunity to pose key questions to Dr. Yanes at the end of the session. Please, register using the following link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2409752719256762369

Please note that the first webinar is freely available for everyone courtesy of the Metabolomics Society and will be uploaded to the society's website. All subsequent sessions from our series will be available for members of the Metabolomics Society only with the opportunity to revisit live recorded sessions at your own convenience. Make sure to check the Metabolomics Society website, Twitter, Facebook for updates on the webinar.

The Society has recently sponsored the Merlion Metabolomics Workshop in Singapore and our very own Chair, Sastia Putri, chaired the young researcher session and presented briefly about the EMN. The huge success of the workshop demonstrated the growth of metabolomics in the region. We hope that more people from Asia will join our network.

Please feel free to contact us via info.emn@metabolomicssociety.org if you have any suggestions for our online webinars and planned activities (such as Metabolomics2015!). The EMN can only be a success with your support and ideas!!


Membership News
Thanks for your continued support of the Metabolomics Society and here is to an exciting 2015!
A reminder for everyone that, for those of you who have not renewed your membership of the Metabolomics Society, it will have expired 31st December 2014. You can renew it for 2015 here.
We have had a few people contact us about upgrading their membership details. You can currently change your details yourself by logging into your membership pages and clicking on “Personal Info”. Currently, for security reasons, if you want to change your name or email address, you will need to contact us directly to do this.


TASK GROUPS CORNER

Metabolite Identification Task Group

BREAKING NEWS: The experimental and computational mass spectrometry community is invited to participate in the third round of an open contest on the identification of small molecules from mass spectrometry data. This contest follows two previous and successful contests in 2012 and 2013. CASMI 2014 provides 48 challenges is the third round of CASMI and is organised by Dr. Warwick Dunn (University of Birmingham), Dr. Dejan Nikolic (University of Illinois at Chicago) and Professor Lloyd Sumner (The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation). Support is provided by the Metabolite Identification task group of the Metabolomics Society, the American Society of Mass Spectrometry and the Mass Spectrometry, Metabolomics & Proteomics Facility of the University of Illinois at Chicago. Please find further information and the challenges available at http://www.casmi-contest.org/2014/index.shtml. The deadline for submissions is February 15th.

INTERNATIONAL AFFILIATES CORNER

Australian & New Zealand Metabolomics Network (ANZMN)
Visit https://sites.google.com/site/anzmn2/

Metabolomics continues to grow in Australia. Bio-separations will be a new area for the Australian Centre for Research on Separation Science (or ACROSS, http://www.utas.edu.au/across) in 2015 as the ANZMN's own Dr. Oliver Jones and RMIT University join the centre.

Elsewhere, the Australian National University (ANU) and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) recently launched a new science precinct in Canberra. The national agricultural and environmental sciences precinct will include a new Centre for Genomics, Metabolomics and Bioinformatics to support agriculture research (http://cmbe-cpms.anu.edu.au/whats-on/all-news/anu-csiro-form-new-food-agriculture-science-precinct).

Finally, the ANZMN wishes all readers of MetaboNews all the best for a happy, prosperous and productive 2015.

Korea Metabolomics Society (KoMetS)
Visit http://komets.or.kr/english05.html
3rd International Conference on Analytical Science & Technology
Dr. Geum-Sook Hwang  Dr. Geum-Sook Hwang, organizer of the conference, KBSI

On November 20-21, 2014, the 3rd International Conference on Analytical Science & Technology was held in Daejeon, Korea, organized by Dr. Geum-Sook Hwang (chief operation committee member of KoMetS), Korea Basic Science Institute (KBSI). Among a range of topics, the most attention was paid to a metabolomics session in which Prof. Jeremy Nicholson (Imperial College, London, UK) gave a plenary lecture on his ongoing research, metabolomics in human disease. Other invited speakers included Prof. Kazuki Saito (RIKEN Center, Kanagawa, Japan), who presented his most current scientific research on metabolomics in nutrition, food, and plant systems. More than 200 scientists joined the conference and had a great opportunity to expose themselves to cutting-edge technology and information.


Réseau Français de Métabolomique et Fluxomique (RFMF)
Visit https://www.bordeaux.inra.fr/ifr103/reseau_metabolome/

The 9th Meeting of the French Network of Metabolomics and Fluxomics will be held in Lille (North of France) from June 9-11, 2015.

Each year, the organizing team is composed of a national component, the board of the French Metabolomic and Fluxomic Network, and a local component. For the first time, this year there are International local organizers from France (either from Lille laboratories: Institut Charles Viollette, CUMA University of Lille, or the Nutrition Health Longevity cluster) and from Belgium (CIRM University of Liège).

The main topics for the 9th Meeting of RFMF are:
- application of metabolomic and fluxomic in the field of health and nutrition
- application of metabolomic and fluxomic in the field of food (toxicology included)
- application of metabolomic and fluxomic in the field of biotechnology
- methodology development in metabolomic and fluxomic (from analytic to data mining methods)

The event will include invited plenary lectures, oral presentations, short presentations, one dedicated session for the RFMF Junior members and two poster sessions. Invited speakers include
•    Jeremy Everett, Pharmaceutical, Chemical & Environmental Sciences, Greenwich University, UK
•    Mickael Lalk, Institute of Biochemistry, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-University Greifswald, Germany
•    Philippe Schmitt-Kopplin, Helmholtz Zentrum München - Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt from Munich, Germany
•    Robert Verpoorte, Natural Products Laboratory, Leiden University, NL

This year, satellite workshops will be held in conjunction with the 9th Meeting on the Monday before the meeting begins, one dealing with Mass spectrometry Imaging and one with Biofluid collection, processing and storage SOPs for metabolomics.

RFMF provides a limited number of travel grants each year to cover the costs for highly-motivated students or post-docs to attend the 9th RFMF Meeting.
Registration will open in January 2015.

For more information on the 9th RFMF workshop, please visit: https://colloque.inra.fr/9_js_rfmf_lille_2015
9th RFMF Workshop Logo

PUBLICATIONS CORNER

Metabolomics journal, Vol. 10, Issue 6, December 2014
See the latest issue of our journal at: http://link.springer.com/journal/11306/10/6/page/1

In addition to the many excellent research papers, this issue contains the following contributions on the Metabolomics Society pages:
 Stay abreast of the latest metabolomics news via the Twitter feed on the front page of the website. Also you can follow us on Twitter: Metabolomics Society @MetabolomicsSoc and Metabolomics journal @Metabolomics. And you can visit us on Facebook.


OTHER FEATURES THROUGH THE YEAR

2015 Honorary Fellows of the Metabolomics Society - Nominations
An Honorary Fellowship is a significant lifetime award granted by the Society to exceptional members of our community. Commissioned in 2012, and with up to two awards each year, the Board of Directors welcomes nominations for these Fellowships, with a closing date of February 1st, 2015. See http://metabolomicssociety.org/index.php/awards/honorary-fellowships for further details about the two categories of awards. Each nominee can be nominated for only one of the categories. Only complete nomination packages will be considered by the Board, and these consist of the five items mentioned on the web page.
 
Software Spotlight

Method Spotlight

Two-Dimensional Liquid Chromatography

Feature article contributed by Oliver A.H. Jones and Jessica Pandohee, School of Applied Sciences, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia

Metabolomics is, for obvious reasons, heavily reliant on advanced analytical instrumentation. Nevertheless, due to the sheer diversity of metabolites present in most biological samples and their correspondingly large range of physicochemical properties it is difficult to envisage a single analytical technique capable of analysing, let alone quantifying, an entire metabolome. Consequently, most metabolomics studies use multiple analytical techniques, each of which has advantages and disadvantages. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy is, for example, fast and reliable but lacks sensitively. Gas Chromatography is sensitive and reproducible but is limited to compounds that are (or can be made) volatile. Liquid Chromatography has a good range, good sensitivity, and can potentially analyse almost any compound but is often hampered by peak resolution issues. New developments in two-dimensional liquid chromatography (2DLC) could however, be about to change this.

Multidimensional liquid chromatography involves coupling two columns, with uncorrelated retention mechanisms, in series. During the analysis a sequential collection of aliquots from the first dimension are reinjected onto the second. The total peak capacity of the system is the product of peak capacities of each individual dimension and far-exceeds the peak capacity of standard LC systems, an illustration of this is shown in Figure 1. It is also possible to perform what is known as heart-cutting and only inject only specific fractions of interest onto the 2nd column. This latter technique is sometimes written as LC-LC to distinguish it from comprehensive 2DLC, which is usually written as LCxLC (N.B. similar terminology is often also employed in multidimensional gas chromatography). Potential users should also be aware that 2DLC comes in two flavours, offline and online; each is slightly different and brings its own benefits and challenges.

A
Contour plot

B
Three-dimensional chromatogram

Figure 1. Comparison of standard and comprehensive offline two-dimensional LC separation of mushroom metabolites. Data are shown as both a contour plot (panel A) and a three-dimensional chromatogram (panel B). The white dots in panel A represent detected peaks (after Pandohee et al.1).

Offline 2DLC has actually been around for over thirty years but has (in common with other forms of multi-dimensional chromatography) recently seen somewhat of a resurgence. It involves the use of a fraction collector at the end of the first column to collect fixed aliquots of the eluent into chromatography vials. The column of the unit can then be changed and each of the previously collected fractions is then run as a 'new' sample. This method is relatively simple and cheap to set up since all that is required is a standard one-dimensional LC system, a fraction collector, and appropriate data processing software. However, since collecting and running multiple aliquots of multiple samples can add up to hundreds, if not thousands of individual runs, the total analysis time for the offline technique is often multiple days or weeks and is thus time and operator intensive. The use of longer columns in the 2nd dimension can also cause samples to become highly diluted so deliberate overloading of the column is sometimes necessary. Integrating the two resulting datasets can also be challenging and require specialised knowledge. The central image in Figure 1, for example, was generated using custom written code in Mathematica (Wolfram Research, Champaign, IL, USA) by Dr. Paul Stevenson of Deakin University2. There are also commercial third party products, such as GC Image LCxLC Edition Software (http://www.gcimage.com/lcxlc/), which allow more detailed analysis but at a substantially increased cost.

Online 2D HPLC is a relatively new technique currently only really offered by the Agilent 1290 Infinity (Figure 2), the Shimadzu Nexera-e, and Waters Acquity instruments. Such systems still make use of multiple HPLC columns but make use of a switching valve in conjunction with advanced software (to control both the valve and the solvent pumps) to move eluent from the 1st column to the 2nd automatically. Online 2DLC is easier to run and the high-pressure capability of modern instrumentation allows high flow rates and correspondingly fast analysis. Disadvantages included increased price and the fact that short second dimension columns are required in automated 2DLC as the separation of a sub-sample in the second dimension must be completed before the subsequent sub-sample from the first dimension is injected.

Agilent 1290 2DLC system

Figure 2. Agilent 1290 2DLC system in the lead author's laboratory at RMIT University in Melbourne Australia

One of the most important factors to consider for 2DLC method development is the choice of column (dimension). To ensure high-resolution separation, the columns should be different phases. Somewhat confusingly, chromatographers often refer to the difference between phases in 2DLC in terms of the columns being orthogonal to each other. For those of us more used to speaking about orthogonality in terms of principal components it is important to note that reference to orthogonal columns does not mean that they are literally connected perpendicularly to each other but simply that the column chemistries are diverse (and unrelated). The choice of which two columns to use for a given separation is usually obtained via selectivity studies using multiple column types to generate knowledge as to which two column phases offer the most different chromatograms and thus the greatest separation for the sample type in question. A detailed knowledge of column phase chemistry can help in this endeavor and the final separation can be optimized via solvent composition, flow rate, temperature, etc., just as in standard LC.
 
In conclusion, although not yet widely used in metabolomics the increased separation power of 2DLC has great potential, particularly for compounds that are too sensitive for mass spectrometry but contained in matrices too complex for standard LC analysis.

References
  1. Pandohee, J., Stevenson, P., Conlan, X., Zhou, X.-R. & Jones, O.A.H. Off-line two-dimensional liquid chromatography for metabolomics: an example using Agaricus bisporus mushrooms exposed to UV irradiation. Metabolomics In Press.
  2. Stevenson, P. G. & Guiochon, G. Cumulative area of peaks in a multidimensional high performance liquid chromatogram. Journal of Chromatography A 1308, 79-85, (2013).


Please note: If you know of any metabolomics research programs, software, databases, statistical methods, meetings, workshops, or training sessions that we should feature in future issues of this newsletter, please email Ian Forsythe at metabolomics.innovation@gmail.com.

 MetaboInterview Icon

MetaboInterviews
MetaboInterviews features interviews with prominent researchers in the field of metabolomics. The aim of these interviews is to shed light on metabolomics researchers around the world and give them an opportunity to share their metabolomics story. In this issue, we feature an interview with Burim Ametaj.


Professor, Department of Agricultural, Food & Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
Burim Ametaj
Biography

Dr. Ametaj received his doctorate degree in nutritional immunology from Iowa State University and did three postdoctoral trainings at Iowa State University, Purdue University, and Cornell University before joining the University of Alberta in 2004. Dr. Ametaj’s research interest is in the area of nutritional immunology. His long-term goals are to study the relationship between nutrition and immune responses, and their contribution in development of production diseases in ruminant animals and to develop new strategies to reduce the high incidence of periparturient diseases in dairy cattle. Dr. Ametaj’s research areas include: 1) determining dairy cattle metabolome in four major fluids (milk, plasma, urine, and rumen fluid), 2) identifying potential biomarkers of disease in major fluid of transition dairy cows, 3) developing a new vaccine for prevention of transition cow diseases, 4) using probiotics to prevent uterine infections and improve reproductive and productive performance of dairy cows, and 5) studying the etiology and pathogenesis of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies.

Metabolomics Interview (MN, MetaboNews; BA, Burim Ametaj)

MN: How did you get involved in metabolomics?

BA: I started working on the Compton Metabolic Profile Test (CMPT) in dairy cows as an undergraduate student. This was a pre-symptomatic diagnosis test. I was inspired and felt very excited by the research work of the late Dr. Jack M. Payne and his team that developed this test in the late 60s and early 70s. This test also inspired many other scientists worldwide who started applying this technology to diagnose production diseases in dairy cow herds. For several decades the CMPT was able to diagnose production diseases based on the principle of ‘one altered blood metabolite one disease’. For instance milk fever was related to hypocalcaemia, fatty liver to high levels of non-esterified fatty acids, and ketosis to greater levels of beta-hydroxybutyrate in the blood. Unfortunately, the CMPT identified elevated or low concentrations of a certain metabolite as oversupply or deficiency of a certain nutrient in the diet. Development of new instrumentation and methodology (i.e., metabolomics) made it possible to screen hundreds and thousands of metabolites in various body fluids of sick subjects and showed that the reductionist approach of tackling a disease state with one perturbed metabolite was not accurate because more than one metabolite was found to be altered (increased or decreased) during a certain illness and the altered metabolite might not be the cause of the disease. Certainly, the launch of a ‘systems biology’ approach renewed my interest in this area of research.

 MN: What are some of the most exciting aspects of your work in metabolomics?

BA: Some of the most exciting aspects of my work include determining the composition of the entire dairy cattle metabolome in collaboration with Dr. David Wishart and his team. There is lack of knowledge about the metabolite composition of various body fluids in cattle and identifying and measuring those metabolites is of utmost importance for researchers, producers, veterinarians, animal scientists, food scientists, and dieticians.

We also are working on identification of biomarkers of disease in transition dairy cows. Transition is a period around parturition (including 4 wk before until 4 wk after parturition), a very critical stage for a dairy cow’s health. This period is marred by many metabolic and infectious diseases and has a very important economic significance for the dairy industry. Unfortunately, one or multiple diseases affect every other cow in a herd during this period of time, significantly influencing their welfare and well-being. Certainly a sick and unhappy cow cannot produce ‘happy milk’ (i.e., healthy milk). The idea is to identify a group of metabolites that would indicate sickness before it appears clinically so that preventative measures could be applied to reduce the incidence rate of transition cow diseases. We have already identified and measured various metabolites related to disease and will make this data available to the research community soon. Moreover, the data from this research will throw light on the important topic of milk quality in sick and healthy cows.

 MN: What key metabolomics initiatives are you pursuing at your research centre or institute?

BA: We are planning to develop a package of metabolites to be used for screening urine, blood, and milk of dairy cows for early diagnosis of subclinical stages of transition cow diseases. We also, as indicated above, are looking at the effects of disease on milk composition. During disease many metabolites change and milk-fat content decreases drastically. Milk fat contains, besides many essential fatty acids, a number of fat-soluble vitamins important for human consumption. Results of this study will give us some important answers to alterations in milk composition during various disease states.

 MN: What is happening in your country in terms of metabolomics?

BA: Dairy cattle researchers country-wise and internationally are becoming more and more aware of ways that metabolomics can be utilized as part of their research activities. The number of investigators using metabolomics technologies in various research fields is increasing. Human metabolomics in Canada is well-established at the University of Alberta; however, funders and administrators are not very well aware about metabolomics' applications and its importance for cattle health and product quality. Therefore, more communication and interactions with these groups of stakeholders needs to be made to obtain more support for metabolomics research in this area.
MN: How do you see your work in metabolomics being applied today or in the future?

BA: I foresee that in the future we will be able to evaluate an animal’s health by taking a drop of body fluid and analyzing thousands of metabolites with the strike of a button; we will be able to apply individualized medicine to livestock animals, too. Up-to-date herd health has been the dominant philosophy in livestock animal production, because the industry is driven by economic principles. This means that if a cow becomes sick to a point where she is no longer profitable, she will be culled from the herd. Application of metabolomics by end-users (i.e., animal producers) will be of great interest to improve individual animal welfare and well-being and as a result human health (i.e., by consumption of healthy animal products). I am thinking about preventive veterinary medicine. Metabolomics can also be used for differential diagnosis in the future. If veterinary practitioners are not certain about the diagnosis of a disease, then metabolomics might help to make the right treatment decisions on the farm. I also foresee the development of new preventive intervention strategies to avoid disease occurrence and financial losses and at the same time improve animal comfort and product quality. Therefore, I see metabolomics and a systems biology approach as tools for solving current livestock industry issues.

MN: As you see it, what are metabolomics' greatest strengths?

BA: Using metabolomics technology, one can detect various metabolic alterations that could not be identified via a reductionist approach. One can detect very small amounts of metabolites that were impossible to identify and measure using other methods. In addition, metabolomics can supply data on the overall health status of an animal or human subject before the appearance of clinical signs of disease or during treatment. Therefore, I see metabolomics as the methodology of choice for preventive and individualized medicine. Metabolomics can be applied in many ways: Other potential applications include the development of effective treatments, checking the quality of foods, toxicology applications, forensic sciences, differential diagnosis of disease, plant science, and many others.

 MN: What do you see as the greatest barriers for metabolomics?

BA: The greatest barriers for metabolomics are the high cost of instruments that are necessary for a lab to conduct research in the area of metabolomics. Also another barrier is utilization of multiple instruments and assays to identify and measure various metabolites. The third barrier is development of standard operating procedures (SOPs). There are an increasing number of investigators that are involved in the metabolomics area and all of them are using different instruments and different SOPs. The fourth barrier is that most labs have no quantifying capacity. They can identify metabolites (i.e., qualitative identification) but are not able to measure concentrations of metabolites present in a certain sample. There is an increasing number of recent papers published in the area of bovine research indicating the interest of new investigators in using metabolomics technologies but lacking the SOPs and methodologies to quantitatively measure metabolites in various fluids.

 MN: What improvements, technological or otherwise, need to take place for metabolomics to really take off?

BA: I would like to envision ‘one instrument that does it all’. If one could run precisely and accurately all the necessary metabolites with one instrument, that would be one of the greatest achievements for human and animal health. This would make it easier to apply metabolomics on a larger scale to human and animal health. The next challenge is to take metabolomics directly to the users so that they could perform direct measurements on their animals or themselves. Interpretation of data is a major hurdle: taking huge amounts of data and converting them into knowledge and understanding of biological pathways and pathogenesis of disease processes. However, I am absolutely sure that we will be there in the near future.

 MN: How does the future look in terms of funding for metabolomics?

BA: I think that funding for metabolomics research will be increasing as more researchers, health companies, and stakeholders realize the importance of metabolomics technologies.

 MN: What role can metabolomics standards play?

BA: There are an increasing number of labs operating in the area of metabolomics for humans, animals, plants and beyond (e.g., bacteria and yeast). Standardization is very important so that we are all on the same page. Otherwise it will be a global cacophony (‘noise is not pleasant’). It is my understanding that the metabolomics community understands the importance of standards and there are various initiatives to unify the standard operating procedures.

 MN: Do you have any other comments that you wish to share about metabolomics?

BA: I would like to thank Dr. David Wishart and his team for having the vision, courage, and persistence to establish a metabolomics center at the University of Alberta and for their pioneering work that made possible the application of metabolomics to various areas of human and animal health in Canada and beyond. Also, the whole team at TMIC (The Metabolomics Innovation Center, University of Alberta) deserves a big THANK YOU for its hard work and generosity in freely providing many online resources that are facilitating the spread of metabolomics technology worldwide.


Please note: We are open to suggestions for our MetaboInterviews section. Please send suggestions for future interview candidates to Ian Forsythe at metabolomics.innovation@gmail.com.
Metabolomics Current Contents

Metabolomics Current Contents

Recently published papers in metabolomics:


MetaboNews

MetaboNews
31 Dec 2014
LECO's ChromaTOF-HRT® 1.81 Now Available

LECO Corporation is pleased to announce the availability of a major upgrade to its ChromaTOF-HRT brand software platform. ChromaTOF-HRT version 1.81 offers both new features and significant improvements in core functionality, making data review and acquisition easier and more intuitive for users.

“Key enhancements were made to the instrument set-up and deconvolution areas of this mass spectrometry data system,” said Lorne Fell, Product Manager for Separation Science. “We conducted a global Beta program and based our improvements and additions on the feedback we received. Some of the tools developed included advanced filters and compound class-specific mass defect plots so users can easily review their most relevant data.” In addition, Fell says, the use of automated formula matching for deconvoluted fragment ions and ChemSpider to help identify “unknown/unknowns” give users the best means to evaluate their results fully and efficiently.

ChromaTOF-HRT 1.81 also includes a number of acquisition centric upgrades with a focus on ease-of-use. These features include a quick run button, the ability to conduct a Tune Report, and significant improvements to both the auto-tune and gain optimization algorithms. The software now also supports the use of hydrogen as a carrier gas.

The same great features of the previous software version continue to be available with ChromaTOF-HRT 1.81, including the newly termed High Resolution Deconvolution™ (HRD™) for creation of pure component mass spectra, seamless data handling, and full compatibility with the NIST library to identify known/unknowns. Overall, the release of ChromaTOF-HRT version 1.81 allows users to be easily successful in gathering and analyzing data from the GC-HRT, and allowing them more time to answer the truly difficult chemical questions in their labs.

About LECO Corporation
 For over 75 years, industries around the world have trusted LECO Corporation to deliver technologically advanced products and solutions. Today, that commitment continues with high-speed/high resolution Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (TOFMS) as well as comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GCxGC), all featuring easy-to-use ChromaTOF® operating software. Product lines also include high-quality analytical instrumentation, metallography and optical equipment, and consumables. LECO currently has over 30 subsidiaries worldwide, in countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Sweden, Canada, and Mexico, with additional distributors authorized to sell or service LECO products to the rest of the world. For more information, visit www.leco.com, or follow us on Twitter (@LECOCorp), and LinkedIn.

Source: LECO Corporation Press Release


Metabolomics Events

Metabolomics Events
29 Jan 2015

Live webinar: Dr. Oscar Yanes - "Metabolomics: only suitable for multidisciplinary teams"
Brought to you by the Early-career Members Network of the Metabolomics Society

Session 1: Expert Speaker, 20 min presentation followed by 10 min Q/A
                     29 January 2015 at 12:30 GMT (13:30 CET, 07:30 EST, 21:30 JST)

Metabolomics is defined as the comprehensive and quantitative analysis of metabolites in living organisms. Among the omic sciences, metabolomics is possibly the most multidisciplinary of all, involving knowledge about electronic engineering and signal processing, analytical and organic chemistry, biostatistics and statistical physics, and biochemistry and cell metabolism. Here an untargeted metabolomics workflow will be detailed that provides examples of this multidisciplinarity.

Speaker Details
Oscar Yanes received his bachelor's degree in biochemistry and a doctorate in biochemistry from Autonomous University of Barcelona. In 2007 he joined The Scripps Center for Metabolomics and Mass Spectrometry (La Jolla, California) headed by Dr. Gary Siuzdak. Since January 2011 he is the scientific coordinator of the Metabolomics Platform of the Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Diabetes and Associated Metabolic Disorders and Assistant Professor at Rovira i Virgili University (Tarragona, Spain), where he also leads the Yanes Lab group (www.yaneslab.com).

Oscar Yanes has long experience in developing new technologies, methods and applications in mass spectrometry-based metabolomics. Recently he is also implementing NMR metabolomic approaches to study fundamental biological processes in combination with other omic platforms. He has significant publications to his name in high-impact factor journals including Nature, Nature Chemical Biology and Journal of Clinical Investigation, with more than 1,000 citations to date.

Registration: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2409752719256762369
Download the Flyer.
9-12 Feb 2015

3rd Annual Practical Applications of NMR in Industry Conference (PANIC)
Venue: La Jolla, CA, USA

You are invited to attend Practical Applications of NMR in Industry Conference (PANIC), February 9 – 12, 2015 in La Jolla, CA.  Students are encouraged to apply for travel awards, and the Metabolomics Society has sponsored one award (free registration) that is exclusively available to Early-Career Members of the Metabolomics Society!

The PANIC meeting is intended to address topics that occur daily in industrial, government, and academic research laboratories whose primary task entails the application of NMR to a diverse set of analytical problems. Topics include quantitation, molecular structure characterization, trace component and mixture analysis, and product support for a variety of materials that include small molecules, polymers, heterogeneous mixtures, natural products, biosimilars, polysaccharides, and proteins. The conference provides in-depth discussions of the “nuts and bolts” of basic NMR experiments that accent the underlying best-practices developed to address these everyday problems. It also explores the regulatory aspects of the applications of these experiments.

Greater insights will be provided into the less frequently explored techniques used in NMR such as quantitation, chemometrics, automation, relaxometry, and at/on line instrumentation. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about and discuss applications of NMR to polymers, petroleum, food, agriculture, and nutritional supplements that are rarely discussed at other NMR meetings. Ample opportunity will be given to Network with people who are experts in inventing NMR experiments to solve real world problems in a timely and efficient manner that is demanded by working in the venue of product delivery.

For more details, visit http://www.panicnmr.com.
16-20 Feb 2015

EMBO Practical Course on Metabolomics Bioinformatics for Life Scientists
Venue: European Bioinformatics Institute, CB10 1SD, United Kingdom (Google Maps)

Organizers

Participation: Open application with selection

Course overview
This course will provide an overview of key issues that affect metabolomics studies, handling dataset and procedures for the analysis of metabolomics data using bioinformatics tools. It will be delivered using a mixture of lectures, computer-based practical sessions and interactive discussions. The course will provide a platform for discussion of the key questions and challenges in the field of metabolomics, from study design to metabolite identification.

Audience
This course is aimed at PhD students, post-docs and researchers with at least two or three year’s experience in the field of metabolomics who are seeking to improve their skills in metabolomics data analysis. Participants ideally must have working experience using R (including a basic understanding of the syntax and ability to manipulate objects).

For more details, visit http://www.ebi.ac.uk/training/course/metabolomics2015.
28 Mar to 1 Apr 2015

Plant Metabolism Session at the ASBMB Annual Meeting
Venue: Boston, Massachusetts

Plant Metabolism will be a 4 day-session at the ASBMB meeting: http://www.asbmb.org/meeting2015/ and http://www.asbmb.org/meetings/annualmeeting2015/sessions/themes/plant/

The abstract submission site is open and accepting abstracts at http://www.asbmb.org/meetings/annualmeeting2015/abstracts/instructions/

Short talks will be chosen from the submitted abstracts. Volunteered abstract submission deadline is THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014 (a strict deadline for short talk programming consideration). Plant Metabolism abstracts should be submitted using ASBMB Abstract Topic Categories # 2350 – 2360.

For more information, click here and visit http://www.asbmb.org/meetings/annualmeeting2015/sessions/themes/plant/.
15-16 Jun 2015

Informatics and Statistics for Metabolomics (2015)
Location: Downtown Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Course Objectives
A poster announcing this workshop can be found here.The workshop will cover many topics ranging from understanding metabolomics technologies, data collection and analysis, using pathway databases, performing pathway analysis, conducting univariate and multivariate statistics, working with metabolomic databases and exploring chemical databases. Participants will be given various data sets and short assignments to assist with the learning process.

Target Audience
This course is intended for graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, clinical fellows and investigators who are interested in learning about both bioinformatic and cheminformatic tools to analyze and interpret metabolomics data.

Prerequisite: Familiarity with R is required. Familiarity can be gained through online activities. You should be familiar with these R concepts (chapters 1-5) or review the past Statistics tutorials provided by CBW.

Apply Now
Award Opportunities

For further details, visit http://bioinformatics.ca/workshops/2015/informatics-and-statistics-metabolomics-2015.
29 Jun to 2 Jul 2015

Metabolomics 2015: 11th Annual Conference of the International Metabolomics Society
The Official Annual Meeting of the International Metabolomics Society
Location: San Francisco, USA
Venue: Hyatt Regency, Burlingame, USA

You are invited to join us for Metabolomics 2015, the official annual meeting of the Metabolomics Society.

This stunning world-class venue will host the most exciting metabolomics conference of 2015. Your host institution, the University of California, Davis, will gladly welcome scientists from all around the world to feel at home and relax while hearing of the latest innovations and breakthroughs in metabolomics.

Please see the Open Call for Organization of Workshops

Stay abreast of the latest Metabolomics Society news via the Twitter feed on the front page of the website (http://www.metabolomicssociety.org). Also you can follow us on Twitter: Metabolomics Society @MetabolomicsSoc and Metabolomics journal @Metabolomics. And you can visit us on Facebook.
For further details, visit http://metabolomics2015.org.

Please note: If you know of any metabolomics lectures, meetings, workshops, or training sessions that we should feature in future issues of this newsletter, please email Ian Forsythe (metabolomics.innovation@gmail.com).

Metabolomics Jobs

Metabolomics Jobs

This is a resource for advertising positions in metabolomics. If you have a job you would like posted in this newsletter, please email Ian Forsythe (metabolomics.innovation@gmail.com). Job postings will be carried for a maximum of 4 issues (8 weeks) unless the position is filled prior to that date.

Jobs Offered

Job Title Employer Location Posted Closes Source
Postdoctoral Fellow in Environmental Metabolomics 
University of Toronto
 Toronto, Canada 8-Jan-2015
 28-Feb-2015
 naturejobs.com
Postdoctoral scientist in metabolomics
 MRC National Institute for Medical Research / Francis Crick Institute
 London, UK 5-Jan-2015 20-Jan-2015
 Francis Crick Institute
Mass Spectrometry Metabolomics Postdoc at the MRC Regional Phenome Centre
 University of Birmingham
 Birmingham, UK 23-Dec-2014 25-Jan-2015
 University of Birmingham
Vice Chancellor's Postdoctoral Fellowship
 RMIT University
 Melbourne, Australia 18-Dec-2014
 8-Feb-2015
 RMIT University
Vice Chancellor's Research & Senior Research Fellowships
 RMIT University
 Melbourne, Australia 18-Dec-2014
 8-Feb-2015
 RMIT University
Principal Statistician
 UC Davis
 Davis, California, USA  18-Dec-2014 Open until filled
 UC Davis
Research Engineer in quantitative mass spectrometry
 MetaboHUB - INRA
 Bordeaux, France 17-Dec-2014 15-Jan-2015
 MetaboHUB
Assistant/Associate Professor, Environmental Health Sciences - Metabolomics
 Yale University
 New Haven, USA 9-Dec-2014 15-Jan-2015
 naturejobs.com
Postdoctoral Researcher in Metabolomics of Cancer
 Karolinska Institutet
 Stockholm, Sweden 27-Nov-2014 31-Jan-2015
 Karolinska Institutet


Jobs Wanted

This section is intended for very highly qualified individuals (e.g., lab managers, professors, directors, executives with extensive experience) who are seeking employment in metabolomics. We encourage these individuals to submit their position requests to Ian Forsythe (metabolomics.innovation@gmail.com). Upon review, a limited number of job submissions will be selected for publication in the Jobs Wanted section.
  • There are currently no positions being advertised.


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