Marine Invertebrate Phylogeny
It is our theory that the chemical ecology of marine invertebrate species bears relevance to the discovery of new therapeutic drug molecules for humans. The PDF file biomicom marine basics summarizes some of the technical literature illustrating the retention of key genes, introns, small RNA translational machinery, pathways, and defensome in the evolution of the human species from these first eukaryotes. The study of these basal organisms opens up a novel approach to identification of small molecules for unique pathway regulation opportunities.
| biomicom_marine_basics_v8.pdf |
EcoNET Marine Chemical Ecology Platform
In order to study the stress-response relationships of invertebrate species in situ from a marine ecosystem using high performance LC/qTOF MS/MS specialized inlet systems are required. A highly automated parallel sampling, sample conditioning, concentration, and desorbtion platform is required. In order to perform this work on a continual basis to support trend and principle component analysis BiOMICom has designed EcoNET. The PDF file EcoNET shows our basic apparatus for parallel chemical ecology measurements.
| econet_v4.pdf |
ASMS 2012
BiOMICom presented the first in-situ marine invertebrate LC/MS measurements in cultured ecosystems using electrospray LC/MS. This ASMS2012 poster proposed in-situ measurements to evaluate stress:response relationships of the species. Isolation methods for anion components in seawater are described and used for various lipid fraction differentiation.
| asms2012_final_v14.pdf |
ASMS 2013 Marine Chemical Ecology
BiOMICom presents the first in-situ marine micro-environment chemical characterization using EcoNET sample collection and high resolution electrospray LC/TOF-MS data. We identify novel secondary metabolites produced in the interaction between a sea anemone and encrusting star polyp and image changes in the phenotype of the organisms in this stressed condition.
| asms2013_final_ps_small.pdf |
ASMS 2013 Charged Aerosols
Dr. Willoughby presented a paper entitled "Comparison of Various Aerosol Charging Techniques used for Atmospheric Pressure and Reduced Pressure Ionization. This paper unifies theory of droplet formation, charging, and ion evaporation for various LC/MS ion sources including thermospray and electrospray. This work forms the basis for understanding current LC/MS source design limitations and future areas of improvement.
| charged_aerosol_poster-_asms_2013.pdf |