NMR-based Metabolomics and Its Applications Volume 2

A special issue of Metabolites (ISSN 2218-1989). This special issue belongs to the section "Metabolomic Profiling Technology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2019) | Viewed by 56634

Special Issue Editors

Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
Interests: NMR spectroscopy; metabolomics; food analysis; infant metabolism
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco, Sapienza Università di Roma, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, Rome, Italy
Interests: food chemistry; advanced food analysis; NMR-based metabolomics; high resolution NMR; chemometrics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Over the last decade, the number of scientific publications in the metabolomics area has increased exponentially. The literature analysis included ca 23,000 articles during the period 2008 to 2017, revealing metabolomics applications in a wide range of fields including medical, plant, animal, and food sciences (this bibliographic data was retrieved from the SCOPUS database searching “metabolomics” in article abstract, title, and keywords). The high applicability of this approach is due to its ability to qualitatively and quantitatively characterize the chemical profile of all the low molecular weight metabolites (metabolome) present in cells, tissues, organs, and biological fluids as end products of the cellular regulatory pathways. Thus, providing a snapshot of the phenotype of a biological system, metabolomics offers useful contributions to a comprehensive insight into the functional status of human, animal, plant, and microbe organisms.

The main analytical platforms employed in metabolomics are Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and mass spectrometry (MS). Both methods have advantages and limitations. They are often used separately, although their combination can help overcome the respective limitations, providing a more comprehensive insight into important metabolic processes.

This Special Issue is focused on the recent technical advances and practical applications of NMR spectroscopy to metabolomics analyses. Submissions of both original research and review articles are welcomed. Topics of this Special Issue include, but are not limited to:

  • Biomedical research
  • Clinical toxicolology
  • Pharmacology
  • Drug discovery
  • Food science
  • Nutrition research
  • Herbal medicines
  • Microbiology
  • Marine biology
  • Environmental sciences
  • Aquaculture
  • Sport and exercise science

Dr. Flaminia Cesare Marincola
Prof. Dr. Luisa Mannina
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Metabolites is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • metabolomics
  • NMR
  • clinical application
  • food and nutritional science 
  • microbiology
  • marine biology
  • environmental science
  • sport and exercise science

Published Papers (15 papers)

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Editorial

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4 pages, 199 KiB  
Editorial
Special Issue on “NMR-Based Metabolomics and Its Applications Volume 2”
by Flaminia Cesare Marincola and Luisa Mannina
Metabolites 2020, 10(2), 45; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo10020045 - 26 Jan 2020
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1787
Abstract
Over the last decade, the number of scientific publications in the metabolomics area has increased exponentially. The literature includes ~29,000 contributions (articles and reviews) during the period of 2009–2019, revealing metabolomics applications in a wide range of fields, including medical, plant, animal, and [...] Read more.
Over the last decade, the number of scientific publications in the metabolomics area has increased exponentially. The literature includes ~29,000 contributions (articles and reviews) during the period of 2009–2019, revealing metabolomics applications in a wide range of fields, including medical, plant, animal, and food sciences (this bibliographic data were retrieved from the SCOPUS database, searching “metabolomics” in keywords). The high applicability of this approach is due to its ability to qualitatively and quantitatively characterize the chemical profile of all the low molecular weight metabolites (metabolome) present in cells, tissues, organs, and biological fluids as end products of the cellular regulatory pathways. Thus, providing a snapshot of the phenotype of a biological system, metabolomics offers useful contributions to a comprehensive insight into the functional status of human, animal, plant, and microbe organisms. The contributions collected in this Special Issue (12 articles, one review and one technical report) report on the recent technical advances and practical applications of NMR spectroscopy to metabolomics analyses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue NMR-based Metabolomics and Its Applications Volume 2)

Research

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25 pages, 2425 KiB  
Article
Quantitative 1H NMR Metabolomics Reveal Distinct Metabolic Adaptations in Human Macrophages Following Differential Activation
by Amanda L. Fuchs, Sage M. Schiller, Wyatt J. Keegan, Mary Cloud B. Ammons, Brian Eilers, Brian Tripet and Valérie Copié
Metabolites 2019, 9(11), 248; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo9110248 - 24 Oct 2019
Cited by 31 | Viewed by 3668
Abstract
Macrophages (MΦs) are phagocytic immune cells that are found in nearly all human tissues, where they modulate innate and adaptive immune responses, thereby maintaining cellular homeostasis. MΦs display a spectrum of functional phenotypes as a result of microenvironmental and stress-induced stimuli. Evidence has [...] Read more.
Macrophages (MΦs) are phagocytic immune cells that are found in nearly all human tissues, where they modulate innate and adaptive immune responses, thereby maintaining cellular homeostasis. MΦs display a spectrum of functional phenotypes as a result of microenvironmental and stress-induced stimuli. Evidence has emerged demonstrating that metabolism is not only crucial for the generation of energy and biomolecular precursors, but also contributes to the function and plasticity of MΦs. Here, 1D 1H NMR-based metabolomics was employed to identify metabolic pathways that are differentially modulated following primary human monocyte-derived MΦ activation with pro-inflammatory (M1) or anti-inflammatory (M2a) stimuli relative to resting (M0) MΦs. The metabolic profiling of M1 MΦs indicated a substantial increase in oxidative stress as well as a decrease in mitochondrial respiration. These metabolic profiles also provide compelling evidence that M1 MΦs divert metabolites from de novo glycerophospholipid synthesis to inhibit oxidative phosphorylation. Furthermore, glycolysis and lactic acid fermentation were significantly increased in both M1 and M2a MΦs. These metabolic patterns highlight robust metabolic activation markers of MΦ phenotypes. Overall, our study generates additional support to previous observations, presents novel findings regarding the metabolic modulation of human MΦs following activation, and contributes new knowledge to the rapidly evolving field of immunometabolism. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue NMR-based Metabolomics and Its Applications Volume 2)
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21 pages, 4997 KiB  
Article
1H HR-MAS NMR-Based Metabolomics of Cancer Cells in Response to Treatment with the Diruthenium Trithiolato Complex [(p-MeC6H4iPr)2Ru2(SC6H4-p-But)3]+ (DiRu-1)
by Hedvika Primasová, Lydia E. H. Paul, Gaëlle Diserens, Ester Primasová, Peter Vermathen, Martina Vermathen and Julien Furrer
Metabolites 2019, 9(7), 146; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo9070146 - 18 Jul 2019
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4060
Abstract
The trithiolato bridged diruthenium complex DiRu-1 [(p-MeC6H4iPr)2Ru2(SC6H4-p-But)3]+ is highly cytotoxic against various cancer cell lines, but its exact mode of action [...] Read more.
The trithiolato bridged diruthenium complex DiRu-1 [(p-MeC6H4iPr)2Ru2(SC6H4-p-But)3]+ is highly cytotoxic against various cancer cell lines, but its exact mode of action remains unknown. The present 1H HR-MAS NMR-based metabolomic study was performed on ovarian cancer cell line A2780, on its cis-Pt resistant variant A2780cisR, and on the cell line HEK-293 treated with 0.03 µM and 0.015 µM of DiRu-1 corresponding to full and half IC50 doses, respectively, to investigate the mode of action of this ruthenium complex. The resulting changes in the metabolic profile of the cell lines were studied using HR-MAS NMR of cell lysates and a subsequent statistical analysis. We show that DiRu-1 in a 0.03 µM dose has significant impact on the levels of a number of metabolites, such as glutamine, glutamate, glutathione, cysteine, lipid, creatine, lactate, and acetate, especially pronounced in the A2780cisR cell line. The IC50/2 dose shows some significant changes, but full IC50 appears to be necessary to observe the full effect. Overall, the metabolic changes observed suggest that redox homeostasis, the Warburg effect, and the lipid metabolism are affected by DiRu-1. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue NMR-based Metabolomics and Its Applications Volume 2)
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17 pages, 3909 KiB  
Article
Ancient Danish Apple Cultivars—A Comprehensive Metabolite and Sensory Profiling of Apple Juices
by Nunzia Iaccarino, Camilla Varming, Mikael Agerlin Petersen, Nanna Viereck, Birk Schütz, Torben Bo Toldam-Andersen, Antonio Randazzo and Søren Balling Engelsen
Metabolites 2019, 9(7), 139; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo9070139 - 11 Jul 2019
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4208
Abstract
In recent decades, intensive selective breeding programs have allowed the development of disease-resistant and flavorsome apple cultivars while leading to a gradual decline of a large number of ancient varieties in many countries. However, the re-evaluation of such cultivars could lead to the [...] Read more.
In recent decades, intensive selective breeding programs have allowed the development of disease-resistant and flavorsome apple cultivars while leading to a gradual decline of a large number of ancient varieties in many countries. However, the re-evaluation of such cultivars could lead to the production new apple-based products with health beneficial properties and/or unique flavor qualities. Herein, we report the comprehensive characterization of juices obtained from 86 old, mostly Danish, apple cultivars, by employing traditional analysis (ion chromatography, °Brix, headspace gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC–MS), and panel test evaluation) as well as an innovative nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based screening method developed by Bruker for fruit juices, known as Spin Generated Fingerprint (SGF) Profiling™. Principal component analysis showed large differences in aroma components and sensory characteristics, including odd peculiar odors and flavors such as apricot and peach, and very different levels of phenolic compounds, acids and sugars among the analyzed juices. Moreover, we observed a tendency for late-season juices to be characterized by higher °Brix values, sugar content and they were perceived to be sweeter and more flavor intense than early-season juices. Our findings are useful for the production of specialty vintage-cultivar apple juices or mixed juices to obtain final products that are characterized both by healthy properties and peculiar sensory attributes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue NMR-based Metabolomics and Its Applications Volume 2)
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17 pages, 9038 KiB  
Communication
Blueberry-Based Meals for Obese Patients with Metabolic Syndrome: A Multidisciplinary Metabolomic Pilot Study
by Anatoly Petrovich Sobolev, Alessandra Ciampa, Cinzia Ingallina, Luisa Mannina, Donatella Capitani, Ilaria Ernesti, Elisa Maggi, Rita Businaro, Maria Del Ben, Petra Engel, Anna Maria Giusti, Lorenzo M. Donini and Alessandro Pinto
Metabolites 2019, 9(7), 138; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo9070138 - 10 Jul 2019
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4543
Abstract
A pilot study was carried out on five obese/overweight patients suffering from metabolic syndrome, with the aim to evaluate postprandial effects of high fat/high glycemic load meals enriched by blueberries. Postprandial urine samples were analyzed by 1H-NMR spectroscopy after 2 and 4 [...] Read more.
A pilot study was carried out on five obese/overweight patients suffering from metabolic syndrome, with the aim to evaluate postprandial effects of high fat/high glycemic load meals enriched by blueberries. Postprandial urine samples were analyzed by 1H-NMR spectroscopy after 2 and 4 h from ingestion to identify potential markers of blueberry intake. Significant decrease of methylamines, acetoacetate, acetone and succinate, known indicators of type 2 diabetes mellitus, were observed after the intake of meals enriched with blueberries. On the other hand, an accumulation of p-hydroxyphenyl-acetic acid and 3-(3’-hydroxyphenyl)-3-hydropropionic acid originating from gut microbial dehydrogenation of proanthocyanidins and procyanidins was detected. Real-time PCR-analysis of mRNAs obtained from mononuclear blood cells showed significant changes in cytokine gene expression levels after meals integrated with blueberries. In particular, the mRNAs expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and Transforming Growth Factor-β (TGF-β), pro and anti-inflammation cytokines, respectively, significantly decreased and increased after blueberry supplementation, indicating a positive impact of blueberry ingestion in the reduction of risk of inflammation. The combined analysis of the urine metabolome and clinical markers represents a promising approach in monitoring the metabolic impact of blueberries in persons with metabolic syndrome. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue NMR-based Metabolomics and Its Applications Volume 2)
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18 pages, 2943 KiB  
Article
NMR-Based Tissular and Developmental Metabolomics of Tomato Fruit
by Martine Lemaire-Chamley, Fabien Mounet, Catherine Deborde, Mickaël Maucourt, Daniel Jacob and Annick Moing
Metabolites 2019, 9(5), 93; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo9050093 - 09 May 2019
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 6046
Abstract
Fruit is a complex organ containing seeds and several interconnected tissues with dedicated roles. However, most biochemical or molecular studies about fleshy fruit development concern the entire fruit, the fruit without seeds, or pericarp only. We studied tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) fruit [...] Read more.
Fruit is a complex organ containing seeds and several interconnected tissues with dedicated roles. However, most biochemical or molecular studies about fleshy fruit development concern the entire fruit, the fruit without seeds, or pericarp only. We studied tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) fruit at four stages of development (12, 20, 35, and 45 days post-anthesis). We separated the seeds and the other tissues, exocarp, mesocarp, columella with placenta and locular tissue, and analyzed them individually using proton NMR metabolomic profiling for the quantification of major polar metabolites, enzymatic analysis of starch, and LC-DAD analysis of isoprenoids. Pericarp tissue represented about half of the entire fruit mass only. The composition of each fruit tissue changed during fruit development. An ANOVA-PCA highlighted common, and specific metabolite trends between tissues e.g., higher contents of chlorogenate in locular tissue and of starch in columella. Euclidian distances based on compositional data showed proximities within and between tissues. Several metabolic regulations differed between tissues as revealed by the comparison of metabolite networks based on correlations between compounds. This work stressed the role of specific tissues less studied than pericarp but that impact fruit organoleptic quality including its shape and taste, and fruit processing quality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue NMR-based Metabolomics and Its Applications Volume 2)
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12 pages, 1584 KiB  
Article
Extra-Virgin Olive Oils from Nine Italian Regions: An 1H NMR-Chemometric Characterization
by Cinzia Ingallina, Antonella Cerreto, Luisa Mannina, Simone Circi, Silvia Vista, Donatella Capitani, Mattia Spano, Anatoly P. Sobolev and Federico Marini
Metabolites 2019, 9(4), 65; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo9040065 - 03 Apr 2019
Cited by 25 | Viewed by 3592
Abstract
Extra-virgin olive oil (383 samples; EVOOs) of three consecutive harvesting years from nine Italian regions were collected and submitted to an 1H NMR-chemometric protocol to characterize the samples according to their origin (geographical area and variety). A more complete assignment of the [...] Read more.
Extra-virgin olive oil (383 samples; EVOOs) of three consecutive harvesting years from nine Italian regions were collected and submitted to an 1H NMR-chemometric protocol to characterize the samples according to their origin (geographical area and variety). A more complete assignment of the olive oil 1H spectrum in CDCl3 and DMSOd6 was reported identifying 24-methylencycolartanol. A single classification model provided the discrimination of EVOOs among the three geographical macro-areas (North, Islands, Center-South), whereas a hierarchical approach based on breaking the overall classification problem into a series of smaller linear discriminant analysis (LDA) sub-models was tested to differentiate olive oils according to their geographical regions. Specific compounds responsible for olive oil characterization were identified. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue NMR-based Metabolomics and Its Applications Volume 2)
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11 pages, 3743 KiB  
Article
Characterization of Yak Common Biofluids Metabolome by Means of Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
by Chenglin Zhu, Cheng Li, Yaning Wang and Luca Laghi
Metabolites 2019, 9(3), 41; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo9030041 - 02 Mar 2019
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3367
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the metabolic profiles of yak (Bos grunniens) serum, feces, and urine by using proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR), to serve as a reference guide for the healthy yak milieu. A total [...] Read more.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the metabolic profiles of yak (Bos grunniens) serum, feces, and urine by using proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR), to serve as a reference guide for the healthy yak milieu. A total of 108 metabolites, giving information about diet, protein digestion, and energy generation or gut-microbial co-metabolism, were assigned across the three biological matrices. A core metabolome of 15 metabolites was ubiquitous across all biofluids. Lactate, acetate, and creatinine could be regarded as the most abundant metabolites in the metabolome of serum, feces, and urine, respectively. Metabolic pathway analysis showed that the molecules identified could be able to give thorough information about four main metabolic pathways, namely valine, leucine, and isoleucine biosynthesis; phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis; glutamine and glutamate metabolism; and taurine and hypotaurine metabolism. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue NMR-based Metabolomics and Its Applications Volume 2)
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15 pages, 1326 KiB  
Article
NMR Metabolomic Analysis of Skeletal Muscle, Heart, and Liver of Hatchling Loggerhead Sea Turtles (Caretta caretta) Experimentally Exposed to Crude Oil and/or Corexit
by Stasia A. Bembenek-Bailey, Jennifer N. Niemuth, Patricia D. McClellan-Green, Matthew H. Godfrey, Craig A. Harms, Hanna Gracz and Michael K. Stoskopf
Metabolites 2019, 9(2), 21; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo9020021 - 26 Jan 2019
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3330
Abstract
We used nuclear magnetic spectroscopy (NMR) to evaluate the metabolic impacts of crude oil, Corexit 5900A, a dispersant, and a crude oil Corexit 5900A mixture exposure on skeletal muscle, heart, and liver physiology of hatchling loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta). Tissue [...] Read more.
We used nuclear magnetic spectroscopy (NMR) to evaluate the metabolic impacts of crude oil, Corexit 5900A, a dispersant, and a crude oil Corexit 5900A mixture exposure on skeletal muscle, heart, and liver physiology of hatchling loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta). Tissue samples were obtained from 22 seven-day-old hatchlings after a four day cutaneous exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of crude oil, Corexit 5900A, a combination of crude oil and Corexit 9500A, or a seawater control. We identified 38 metabolites in the aqueous extracts of the liver, and 30 metabolites in both the skeletal and heart muscle aqueous extracts, including organic acids/osmolytes, energy compounds, amino acids, ketone bodies, nucleosides, and nucleotides. Skeletal muscle lactate, creatines, and taurine concentrations were significantly lower in hatchlings exposed to crude oil than in control hatchlings. Lactate, taurine, and cholines appeared to be the basis of some variation in hatchling heart samples, and liver inosine, uracil, and uridine appeared to be influenced by Corexit and crude oil exposure. Observed decreases in concentrations of lactate and creatines may reflect energy depletion in skeletal muscle of oil-exposed animals, while decreased taurine concentrations in these animals may reflect higher oxidative stress. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue NMR-based Metabolomics and Its Applications Volume 2)
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7 pages, 971 KiB  
Article
Univariate Statistical Analysis as a Guide to 1H-NMR Spectra Signal Assignment by Visual Inspection
by Chenglin Zhu, Beatrice Vitali, Gilbert Donders, Carola Parolin, Yan Li and Luca Laghi
Metabolites 2019, 9(1), 15; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo9010015 - 15 Jan 2019
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2964
Abstract
In Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H-NMR) spectroscopy, the signals assignment procedure is normally conducted by visual inspection of the spectra, by taking advantage of the innate predisposition of human eye for pattern recognition. In the case of untargeted metabolomics investigations on [...] Read more.
In Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H-NMR) spectroscopy, the signals assignment procedure is normally conducted by visual inspection of the spectra, by taking advantage of the innate predisposition of human eye for pattern recognition. In the case of untargeted metabolomics investigations on food and body fluids, the complexity of the spectra may lead the user to overlook signals, independently from their biological relevance. Here, we describe a four steps procedure that is designed to guide signals assignment task by visual inspection. The procedure can be employed whenever an experimental plan allows for the application of a univariate statistical analysis on a point-by-point basis, which is commonly the case. By comparing, as a proof of concept, 1H-NMR spectra of vaginal fluids of healthy and bacterial vaginosis (BV) affected women, we show that the procedure is also readily usable by non-experts in three particularly challenging cases: overlapping multiplets, poorly aligned signals, and signals with very poor signal-to-noise ratio. The paper is accompanied by the necessary codes and examples written in R computational language to allow the interested user gaining a hands-on impression of the procedure’s strengths and weaknesses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue NMR-based Metabolomics and Its Applications Volume 2)
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15 pages, 1695 KiB  
Article
Rapid Cerebral Metabolic Shift during Neonatal Sepsis Is Attenuated by Enteral Colostrum Supplementation in Preterm Pigs
by Masoumeh Alinaghi, Ping-Ping Jiang, Anders Brunse, Per Torp Sangild and Hanne Christine Bertram
Metabolites 2019, 9(1), 13; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo9010013 - 11 Jan 2019
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3614
Abstract
Sepsis, the clinical manifestation of serious infection, may disturb normal brain development, especially in preterm infants with an immature brain. We hypothesized that neonatal sepsis induces systemic metabolic alterations that rapidly affect metabolic signatures in immature brain and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Cesarean-delivered preterm [...] Read more.
Sepsis, the clinical manifestation of serious infection, may disturb normal brain development, especially in preterm infants with an immature brain. We hypothesized that neonatal sepsis induces systemic metabolic alterations that rapidly affect metabolic signatures in immature brain and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Cesarean-delivered preterm pigs systemically received 109 CFU/kg Staphylococcus epidermidis (SE) and were provided total parenteral nutrition (n = 9) or enteral supplementation with bovine colostrum (n = 10) and compared with uninfected pigs receiving parenteral nutrition (n = 7). Plasma, CSF, and brain tissue samples were collected after 24 h and analyzed by 1H NMR-based metabolomics. Both plasma and CSF metabolomes revealed SE-induced changes in metabolite levels that reflected a modified energy metabolism. Hence, increased plasma lactate, alanine, and succinate levels, as well as CSF lactate levels, were observed during SE infection (all p < 0.05, ANOVA analysis). Myo-inositol, a glucose derivative known for beneficial effects on lung maturation in preterm infants, was also increased in plasma and CSF following SE infection. Enteral colostrum supplementation attenuated the lactate accumulation in blood and CSF. Bloodstream infection in preterm newborns was found to induce a rapid metabolic shift in both plasma and CSF, which was modulated by colostrum feeding. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue NMR-based Metabolomics and Its Applications Volume 2)
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10 pages, 1318 KiB  
Article
Metabolomics of Breast Milk: The Importance of Phenotypes
by Angelica Dessì, Despina Briana, Sara Corbu, Stavroula Gavrili, Flaminia Cesare Marincola, Sofia Georgantzi, Roberta Pintus, Vassilios Fanos and Ariadne Malamitsi-Puchner
Metabolites 2018, 8(4), 79; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo8040079 - 20 Nov 2018
Cited by 39 | Viewed by 4596
Abstract
Breast milk is the gold standard of nutrition for newborns. Its composition is tailored to the nutritional needs of the infant and varies between mothers. In recent years, several bioactive molecules have been discovered in addition to the main nutrients, such as multipotent [...] Read more.
Breast milk is the gold standard of nutrition for newborns. Its composition is tailored to the nutritional needs of the infant and varies between mothers. In recent years, several bioactive molecules have been discovered in addition to the main nutrients, such as multipotent stem cells, hormones, immunoglobulins, and bacteria. Furthermore, the human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) seem to exert several important protective biological functions. According to the HMOs’ composition, breast milk can be classified as a secretory or non-secretory phenotype. In our study, we investigated the metabolome of milk collected from 58 mothers that delivered neonates at term, that were appropriate, small or large for gestational age, by performing nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-NMR). From the data analysis, two groups were distinguished based on their different types of oligosaccharides, and classified according the mother phenotype: secretory and non-secretory. This information is of major importance given the different biological function of the different HMOs, such as immune-modulation and protection against disease. This would allow us to predict whether the neonate would be, for instance, more prone to developing certain diseases, and to tailor her or his nutrition to fit their needs perfectly and pave the way to a personalized nutrition. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue NMR-based Metabolomics and Its Applications Volume 2)
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17 pages, 3437 KiB  
Article
Traceability of “Tuscan PGI” Extra Virgin Olive Oils by 1H NMR Metabolic Profiles Collection and Analysis
by Chiara Roberta Girelli, Laura Del Coco, Samanta Zelasco, Amelia Salimonti, Francesca Luisa Conforti, Andrea Biagianti, Daniele Barbini and Francesco Paolo Fanizzi
Metabolites 2018, 8(4), 60; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo8040060 - 30 Sep 2018
Cited by 28 | Viewed by 3689
Abstract
According to Coldiretti, Italy still continues to hold the European Quality record in extra virgin olive oils with origin designation and protected geographical indication (PDO and PGI). To date, 46 Italian brands are recognized by the European Union: 42 PDO and 4 PGI [...] Read more.
According to Coldiretti, Italy still continues to hold the European Quality record in extra virgin olive oils with origin designation and protected geographical indication (PDO and PGI). To date, 46 Italian brands are recognized by the European Union: 42 PDO and 4 PGI (Tuscan PGI, Calabria PGI; Tuscia PGI and PGI Sicily). Specific regulations, introduced for these quality marks, include the designation of both the geographical areas and the plant varieties contributing to the composition of the olive oil. However, the PDO and PGI assessment procedures are currently based essentially on farmer declarations. Tuscan PGI extra virgin olive oil is one of the best known Italian trademarks around the world. Tuscan PGI varietal platform is rather wide including 31 specific olive cultivars which should account for at least 95% of the product. On the other hand, while the characteristics of other popular Italian extra virgin olive oils (EVOOs) cultivars from specific geographical areas have been extensively studied (such as those of Coratina based blends from Apulia), little is still known about Tuscan PGI EVOO constituents. In this work, we performed, for the first time, a large-scale analysis of Tuscan PGI monocultivar olive oils by 1H NMR spectroscopy and multivariate statistical analyses (MVA). After genetic characterization of 217 leaf samples from 24 selected geographical areas, distributed all over the Tuscany, a number of 202 micro-milled oil samples including 10 PGI cultivars, was studied. The results of the present work confirmed the need of monocultivar genetically certified EVOO samples for the construction of 1H-NMR-metabolic profiles databases suitable for cultivar and/or geographical origin assessment. Such specific PGI EVOOs databases could be profitably used to justify the high added value of the product and the sustainability of the related supply chain. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue NMR-based Metabolomics and Its Applications Volume 2)
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Review

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12 pages, 1772 KiB  
Review
Current Developments in µMAS NMR Analysis for Metabolomics
by Covadonga Lucas-Torres and Alan Wong
Metabolites 2019, 9(2), 29; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo9020029 - 06 Feb 2019
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2986
Abstract
Analysis of microscopic specimens has emerged as a useful analytical application in metabolomics because of its capacity for characterizing a highly homogenous sample with a specific interest. The undeviating analysis helps to unfold the hidden activities in a bulk specimen and contributes to [...] Read more.
Analysis of microscopic specimens has emerged as a useful analytical application in metabolomics because of its capacity for characterizing a highly homogenous sample with a specific interest. The undeviating analysis helps to unfold the hidden activities in a bulk specimen and contributes to the understanding of the fundamental metabolisms in life. In NMR spectroscopy, micro(µ)-probe technology is well-established and -adopted to the microscopic level of biofluids. However, this is quite the contrary with specimens such as tissue, cell and organism. This is due to the substantial difficulty of developing a sufficient µ-size magic-angle spinning (MAS) probe for sub-milligram specimens with the capability of high-quality data acquisition. It was not until 2012; a µMAS probe had emerged and shown promises to µg analysis; since, a continuous advancement has been made striving for the possibility of µMAS to be an effective NMR spectroscopic analysis. Herein, the mini-review highlights the progress of µMAS development—from an impossible scenario to an attainable solution—and describes a few demonstrative metabolic profiling studies. The review will also discuss the current challenges in µMAS NMR analysis and its potential to metabolomics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue NMR-based Metabolomics and Its Applications Volume 2)
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Other

11 pages, 2329 KiB  
Brief Report
1D “Spikelet” Projections from Heteronuclear 2D NMR Data—Permitting 1D Chemometrics While Preserving 2D Dispersion
by Maryam Tabatabaei Anaraki, Wolfgang Bermel, Rudraksha Dutta Majumdar, Ronald Soong, Myrna Simpson, Martine Monnette and André J. Simpson
Metabolites 2019, 9(1), 16; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo9010016 - 16 Jan 2019
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3131
Abstract
Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is a powerful tool for the non-targeted metabolomics of intact biofluids and even living organisms. However, spectral overlap can limit the information that can be obtained from 1D 1H NMR. For example, magnetic susceptibility broadening in living organisms [...] Read more.
Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is a powerful tool for the non-targeted metabolomics of intact biofluids and even living organisms. However, spectral overlap can limit the information that can be obtained from 1D 1H NMR. For example, magnetic susceptibility broadening in living organisms prevents any metabolic information being extracted from solution-state 1D 1H NMR. Conversely, the additional spectral dispersion afforded by 2D 1H-13C NMR allows a wide range of metabolites to be assigned in-vivo in 13C enriched organisms, as well as a greater depth of information for biofluids in general. As such, 2D 1H-13C NMR is becoming more and more popular for routine metabolic screening of very complex samples. Despite this, there are only a very limited number of statistical software packages that can handle 2D NMR datasets for chemometric analysis. In comparison, a wide range of commercial and free tools are available for analysis of 1D NMR datasets. Overtime, it is likely more software solutions will evolve that can handle 2D NMR directly. In the meantime, this application note offers a simple alternative solution that converts 2D 1H-13C Heteronuclear Single Quantum Correlation (HSQC) data into a 1D “spikelet” format that preserves not only the 2D spectral information, but also the 2D dispersion. The approach allows 2D NMR data to be converted into a standard 1D Bruker format that can be read by software packages that can only handle 1D NMR data. This application note uses data from Daphnia magna (water fleas) in-vivo to demonstrate how to generate and interpret the converted 1D spikelet data from 2D datasets, including the code to perform the conversion on Bruker spectrometers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue NMR-based Metabolomics and Its Applications Volume 2)
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