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ZBS 6: Proteomics and Spectroscopy

Head:
Peter Lasch
Deputy:
Michael Beekes

Tasks

ZBS 6 uses mass spectrometry, vibrational spectroscopy and other cell-free or cell-based in vitro techniques to characterize biological agents. Our main research activities are focused on the

  • Identification and characterization of pathogens by means of proteomic techniques (LC-MS/MS and MALDI-TOF MS),
  • Development of Raman and infrared (IR) spectroscopic, or mass spectrometric (MS) methods for rapid detection and identification of bacteria and viruses, and
  • Investigation of the molecular and structural basis of the seeding activity of prions and other self-replicating protein particles (prionoids/proteopathic seeds) in cerebral proteinopathies such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and Parkinson's disease.

Group 1: Diagnostics

  • Investigation of samples from unusual biological events potentially containing highly pathogenic agents (bioterrorism, natural and accidental outbreaks) by means of mass spectrometry and confocal Raman microspectroscopy (in collaboration with ZBS 2).

Group 2: Research and Development

  • Characterization of pathogenic microorganisms using proteomic and spectroscopic techniques (MALDI-TOF MS, LC-MS/MS, Raman and infrared (IR) spectroscopy), development of software for identification and characterization of pathogens from mass spectrometry and vibrational spectroscopy data
  • Proteomic and molecular biology studies in proteinopathies/neurodegenerative diseases
  • Provision of the central proteomics service for research groups of the RKI
  • Development of methods for the characterization of microorganisms and microbial biofilms based on confocal Raman spectroscopy, IR near-field spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy (AFM)
  • Investigation of pathogenic mechanisms in neurodegenerative proteinopathies of the CNS
  • Health-related aspects of the transport of infectious agents

Group 3: Prions and Prionoids

Head: Michael Beekes
Deputy: Achim Thomzig

  • Research on the molecular and structural basis of the seeding activity of prions and other self-replicating protein particles (prionoids/proteopathic seeds) in cerebral proteinopathies (Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and Parkinson's disease)
  • Development and validation of decontamination methods for the inactivation or removal of prions and prionoids/proteopathic seeds attached to surgical instruments or other medical devices
  • Development of alternative methods to animal bioassays for sensitive detection and pathophysiological exploration of the seeding activity of prions and prionoids/proteopathic seeds

Further information

Date: 01.06.2023

Publications

  • Doellinger J, Blumenscheit C, Schneider A, Lasch P (2023): Increasing Proteome Depth While Maintaining Quantitative Precision in Short-Gradient Data-Independent Acquisition Proteomics.
    J Proteome Res.: doi: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.3c00078. Epub ahead of print. more

  • Lasch P, Stämmler M, Schneider A (2023): Version 4 (20230306) of the MALDI-ToF Mass Spectrometry Database for Identification and Classification of Highly Pathogenic Microorganisms from the Robert Koch-Institute (RKI).
    ZENODO. (Version 20230306): doi: 10.5281/zenodo.7702375. more

show all

  • Schwenke KA, Wagenführ K, Thanheiser M, Beekes M (2023): Kinetics of the reduction of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease prion seeding activity by steam sterilization support the use of validated 134°C programmes.
    J Hosp Infect. 132: 125-132. doi: 10.1016/j.jhin.2022.08.014. more

  • Grossegesse M, Bourquain D, Neumann M, Schaade L, Schulze J, Mache C, Wolff T, Nitsche A, Doellinger J (2022): Deep Time Course Proteomics of SARS-CoV- and SARS-CoV-2-Infected Human Lung Epithelial Cells (Calu-3) Reveals Strong Induction of Interferon-Stimulated Gene Expression by SARS-CoV-2 in Contrast to SARS-CoV.
    J. Proteome Res. 21 (2): 459-469. doi: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.1c00783. more

  • Schwenke KA, Wälzlein JH, Bauer A, Thomzig A, Beekes M (2022): Primary glia cells from bank vole propagate multiple rodent-adapted scrapie prions.
    Sci Rep 12 (1): 2190. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-06198-4. more

  • Baqué M, Backhaus T, Meeßen J, Hanke F, Böttger U, Ramkissoon N, Olsson-Francis K, Baumgärtner M, Billi D, Cassaro A, de la Torre Noetzel R, Demets R, Edwards H, Ehrenfreund P, Elsaesser A, Foing B, Foucher F, Huwe B, Joshi J, Kozyrovska N, Lasch P, Lee N, Leuko S, Onofri S, Ott S, Pacelli C, Rabbow E, Rothschild L, Schulze-Makuch D, Selbmann L, Serrano P, Szewzyk U, Verseux C, Wagner D, Westall F, Zucconi L, de Vera JP (2023): Biosignature stability in space enables their use for life detection on Mars.
    Sci Adv. 8 (36): eabn7412. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abn741. more

  • Mülner P, Schwarz E, Dietel K, Herfort S, Jähne J, Lasch P, Cernava T, Berg G, Vater J (2021): Fusaricidins, Polymyxins and Volatiles Produced by Paenibacillus polymyxa Strains DSM 32871 and M1.
    Pathogens 10 (11): 1485. Epub Nov 15. doi: 10.3390/pathogens10111485. more

  • Pinder P, Thomzig A, Schulz-Schaeffer WJ, Beekes M (2021): Alpha-synuclein seeds of Parkinson’s disease show high prion-exceeding resistance to steam sterilization.
    J. Hosp. Infect. 108 (Feb): 25-32. Epub 2020 Oct 31. doi: 10.1016/j.jhin.2020.10.018. more

  • Blumenscheit C, Pfeifer Y, Werner G, John C, Schneider A, Lasch P, Doellinger J (2021): Unbiased Antimicrobial Resistance Detection from Clinical Bacterial Isolates Using Proteomics.
    Anal. Chem. 93 (44): 14599-14608. Epub Oct 26. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.1c00594. more

  • Thomzig A, Wagenführ K, Pinder P, Joncic M, Schulz-Schaeffer WJ, Beekes M (2021): Transmissible α-synuclein seeding activity in brain and stomach of patients with Parkinson’s disease.
    Acta Neuropathol. 141 (6): 861–879. Epub Apr 24. doi: 10.1007/s00401-021-02312-4. more

  • Wälzlein JH, Schwenke KA, Beekes M (2021): Propagation of CJD Prions in Primary Murine Glia Cells Expressing Human PrPc.
    Pathogens 10 (8): 1060. Epub Aug 20. doi: 10.3390/pathogens10081060. more

  • Lasch P, Schneider A, Blumenscheit C, Doellinger J (2020): Identification of Microorganisms by Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS(1)) and in Silico Peptide Mass Libraries.
    Mol. Cell. Proteomics. 19 (12): 2125-2139. Epub Sep 30. doi: 10.1074/mcp.TIR120.002061. more

  • Doellinger J, Schneider A, Hoeller M, Lasch P (2020): Sample Preparation by Easy Extraction and Digestion (SPEED) - A Universal, Rapid, and Detergent-free Protocol for Proteomics Based on Acid Extraction.
    Mol. Cell. Proteomics 19 (1): 209–222. Epub 2019 Nov 21. doi: 10.1074/mcp.TIR119.001616. more

  • Doellinger J, Blumenscheit C, Schneider A, Lasch P (2020): Isolation Window Optimization of Data-Independent Acquisition Using Predicted Libraries for Deep and Accurate Proteome Profiling.
    Anal. Chem. 92 (18): 12185–12192. Epub Aug 25. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.0c00994. more

  • Beekes M, Mielke M, Thomzig A (2019): Avoid brain contamination from surgery.
    Nature 565 (7740): 429. Epub Jan 23. doi: 10.1038/d41586-019-00232-8. more

  • Lasch P, Noda I (2019): Two-Dimensional Correlation Spectroscopy (2D-COS) for Analysis of Spatially Resolved Vibrational Spectra.
    Appl. Spectrosc. 73 (4): 359–379. Epub Mar 21. doi: 10.1177/0003702818819880. more

  • de Vera JP, Alawi M, Backhaus T, Baqué M, Billi D, Böttger U, Berger T, Bohmeier M, Cockell C, Demets R, de la Torre Noetzel R, Edwards H, Elsaesser A, Fagliarone C, Fiedler A, Foing B, Foucher F, Fritz J, Hanke F, Herzog T, Horneck G, Hübers HW, Huwe B, Joshi J, Kozyrovska N, Kruchten M, Lasch P et al. (2019): Limits of life and the habitability of Mars: the ESA space experiment BIOMEX on the ISS.
    Astrobiology 19 (2): 145–157. Epub Feb 11. doi: 10.1089/ast.2018.1897. more

  • Vater J, Herfort S, Doellinger J, Weydmann M, Lasch P, Borriss R (2018): Genome Mining of the Lipopeptide Biosynthesis of Paenibacillus polymyxa E681 in Combination with Mass Spectrometry: Discovery of the Lipoheptapeptide Paenilipoheptin.
    Chembiochem. 19 (7): 744-753. Epub Jan 25. doi: 10.1002/cbic.201700615. more

  • Lasch P, Stämmler M et al. (2018): FT-IR Hyperspectral Imaging and Artificial Neural Network Analysis for Identification of Pathogenic Bacteria.
    Anal. Chem. 90 (15): 8896-8904. Epub Jun 26. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.8b01024. more

  • Paul L, Kirsch P, Thomzig A, Thöne-Reineke C, Beekes M (2018): Practical approaches for refinement and reduction of animal experiments with bank voles in prion research.
    Berl Münch Tierärztl Wochenschr. 131 (6): 359-367. doi: 10.2376/0005-9366-17108. more