Research studentships are offered tostudents wishing to undertake a PhD or MRes programme on a full-timebasis.  All studentships are highlycompetitive and you should ensure (and demonstrate) that there is a good matchbetween your own qualifications and interests and those being sought for theparticular studentship.

Applications of Trace Gas Analysis in RespiratoryMedicine (PhD Studentship).

Background

Trace gas analysis has wide applications in medicine, physiology,cell biology and environment etc. There is a growing interest and importantapplications for the analysis of trace gases in exhaled breath and in theheadspace of plasma, urine and cell and bacterial cultures for clinicaldiagnosis and therapeutic monitoring, for respiratory medicine, cell biologyand related research. 

Our analytical tool used for trace gas analysis and non-invasive,real time, on-line breath is the selected ion flow tube mass spectrometer(SIFT-MS) [1]. It is a sensitive and quantitative mass spectrometry techniqueusing chemical ionization of the sample trace gases by selected positive ions(H₃O⁺, NO⁺ and O₂⁺)during a well-defined time period along a Selected Ion Flow Tube [2]. Absoluteconcentrations of trace compounds in humid air or breath are calculated in realtime from the reagent and product ion signal ratios determined by a downstreamanalytical mass spectrometer, without the need for calibration using standards[1, 2].

Many respiratory diseases are commonly caused and/or associated withbacterial infections. Many bacteria release a characteristic set of volatileorganic compounds (VOCs) that can be used to detect their presence [3]. Recently,in collaboration with our clinical colleagues based in North StaffordshireHospital Trust, we have used SIFT-MS to demonstrate that cultures of Pseudomonasbacteria emit hydrogen cyanide (HCN) invitro [4]. We have analyzed the headspace above a sample of Pseudomonasbacteria that were stored in a sealed bag, HCN was clearly detected, along withseveral other volatiles, including acetone, ammonia, methanol, ethanol andmethanethiol [4], and we have established the conditions required for measuringthe amounts of HCN released [5]. This has important biomedical implicationsbecause children suffering from cystic fibrosis (CF) are susceptible toinfection in the lungs by Pseudomonas Aeruginosa (PA). So,SIFT-MS could be used to detect this metabolite in the breath. Hence, it may bepossible to detect the presence of PA and diagnose of CF in its early stage. Incollaboration with our clinical colleagues, we have just initiated further in vivo investigation and researchinvolving the analysis of breath samples from patients suffering from PAinfection and CF, and other possible respiratory diseases.

Program

In this project, it is envisaged that the student will receivetraining in using the SIFT-MS instrument for trace gas analysis. He/she willjoin an interdisciplinary team in a research program on the SIFT-MSapplications to Respiratory Medicine. He/she will also participate in thepostgraduate training program on research skills and research methods.

References

1.     Smith D, Å panělP. SIFT applications in mass spectrometry. In Lindon JC, Tranter GE, Holmes JLeditors. Encyclopedia of Spectroscopy and Spectrometry, London: AcademicPress. 1999: 2092-2105.

2.     Ã… paněl P, SmithD. Medical and Biological Engineering andComputing. 1996, 34:409-419.WangT S et al, pseudomonas

3.     Wang TS, Smith D,Å paněl P. Int. J. Mass Spectrom., 2004, 233: 245-251

4.     Carol W, Lenney W, Wang TS, Å paněl P, Alcock A, Smith D. PediatricPulmonology, 2005; 39: 452-456

5.     Ã… panĕl P, WangTS, Smith D. Rapid Commun. Mass Spectrom.,2004, 18:1869-1873.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

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