Kevin J. James

Azaspiracid poisoning (AZP) toxins in shellfish: toxicological and health considerations.

It has been almost a decade since a previously unknown human toxic syndrome, azaspiracid poisoning (AZP), emerged as the cause of severe gastrointestinal illness in humans after the consumption of mussels (Mytilus edulis). Structural studies indicated that these toxins, azaspiracids, were of a new unprecedented class containing novel structural features. It is now known that the prevalent azaspiracids in mussels are AZA1, AZA2 and AZA3, which differ from each other in their degree of methylation. Several hydroxylated and carboxylated analogues of the main azaspiracids have also been identified, presumed to be metabolites of the main toxins. Since its first discovery in Irish mussels, the development of facile sensitive and selective LC-MS/MS methods has resulted in the discovery of AZA in other countries and in other species. Mice studies indicate that this toxin class can cause serious tissue injury, especially to the small intestine, and chronic exposure may increase the likelihood of the development of lung tumours. Studies also show that tissue recovery is very slow following exposure. These observations suggest that AZA is more dangerous than the other known classes of shellfish toxins. Consequently, in order to protect human consumers, proper risk assessment and regulatory control of shellfish and other affected species is of the utmost importance.

Azaspiracid poisoning, the food-borne illness associated with shellfish consumption

Azaspiracid poisoning (AZP) is a recently discovered toxic syndrome that was identified following severe gastrointestinal illness from the consumption of contaminated mussels (Mytilus edulis). The implicated toxins, azaspiracids, are polyethers with unprecedented structural features. Studies toward total toxin synthesis revealed that the initial published structures were incorrect and they have now been revised. These toxins accumulate in bivalve molluscs that feed on toxic microalgae of the genus Protoperidinium, previously considered to be toxicologically benign. Although first identified in shellfish from Ireland, azaspiracid contamination of several types of bivalve shellfish species has now been confirmed throughout the western coastline of Europe. Toxicological studies have indicated that azaspiracids can induce widespread organ damage in mice and that they are probably more dangerous than previously known classes of shellfish toxins. The exclusive reliance on live animal bioassays to monitor azaspiracids in shellfish failed to prevent human intoxications. This was a consequence of poor sensitivity of the assay and the fact that azaspiracids are not exclusively found in the shellfish digestive glands used for toxin testing. The strict regulatory control of azaspiracids in shellfish now requires frequent testing of shellfish using highly specific and sensitive methods involving liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Food contaminant analysis at ultra-high mass resolution: application of hybrid linear ion trap - orbitrap mass spectrometry for the determination of the polyether toxins, azaspiracids, in shellfish

The biotoxins, azaspiracids (AZAs), from marine phytoplankton accumulate in shellfish and affect human health by causing severe gastrointestinal disturbance, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. Specific and sensitive methods have been developed and validated for the determination of the most commonly occurring azaspiracid analogs. An LTQ Orbitrap mass spectrometer is a hybrid instrument that combines linear ion trap (LIT) mass spectrometry (MS) with high-resolution Fourier transform (FT) MS and this was exploited to perform simultaneous ultra-high-resolution full-scan MS analysis and collision-induced dissociation (CID) tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Using the highest mass resolution setting (100,000 FWHM) in full-scan mode, the methodology was validated for the determination of six AZAs in mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis) tissue extracts. Ultra-high mass resolution, together with a narrow mass tolerance window of ±2 mDa, dramatically improved detection sensitivity. In addition to employing chromatographic resolution to distinguish between the isomeric azaspiracid analogs, AZA1/AZA6 and AZA4/AZA5, higher energy collisionally induced dissociation (HCD) fragmentation on selected precursor ions were performed in parallel with full-scan FTMS. Using HCD MS/MS, most precursor and product ion masses were determined within 1 ppm of the theoretical m/z values throughout the mass spectral range and this enhanced the reliability of analyte identity.For the analysis of mussels (M. galloprovincialis), the method limit of quantitation (LOQ) was 0.010 µg/g using full-scan FTMS and this was comparable with the LOQ (0.007 µg/g) using CID MS/MS. The repeatability data were; intra-day RSD% (1.8-4.4%; n = 6) and inter-day RSD% (4.7-8.6%; n = 3). Application of these methods to the analysis of mussels (M. edulis) that were naturally contaminated with azaspiracids, using high-resolution full-scan Orbitrap MS and low-resolution CID MS/MS, produced equivalent quantitative data.

Elucidation of the mass fragmentation pathways of potato glycoalkaloids and aglycons using Orbitrap mass spectrometry.

The mass fragmentation of potato glycoalkaloids, α-solanine and α-chaconine, and the aglycons, demissidine and solasodine were studied using the Orbitrap Fourier transform (FT) mass spectrometer. Using the linear ion trap (LIT) mass spectrometry, multistage collisional-induced dissociation (CID) experiments (MS(n)) on the [M + H](+) precursor ions were performed to aid the elucidation of the mass fragmentation pathways. In addition, higher energy collisional-induced dissociation (HCD) mass spectra were generated for these toxins at a high resolution setting [100,000 FWHM (full width at half maximum)] using the Orbitrap. This hybrid mass spectrometry instrumentation was exploited to produce MS(3) spectra by selecting MS(2) product ions, generated using LIT MS, and fragmentation using HCD. The accurate mass data in the MS(3) spectra aided the confirmation of proposed product ion formulae. The precursor and product ions from glycoalkaloids lost up to four sugars from different regions during MS(n) experiments. Mass fragmentation of the six-ring aglycons were similar, generating major product ions that resulted from cleavages at the B-rings and E-rings.

Mussels increase xenobiotic (azaspiracid) toxicity using a unique bioconversion mechanism.

Azaspiracid Poisoning (AZP) is a human toxic syndrome which is associated with the consumption of bivalve shellfish. Unlike other shellfish, mussels contain a large array of azaspiracid analogs, many of which are suspected bioconversion products. These studies were conducted to elucidate the metabolic pathways of azaspiracid (AZA1) in the blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) and revealed that the main biotransformation product was the more toxic demethyl analog, AZA3. To elucidate the mechanism of this C-demethylation, an unprecedented xenobiotic bioconversion step in shellfish, AZA1 was fed to mussels that contained no detectable azaspiracids. Triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (MS) and high resolution Orbitrap MS were used to determine the uptake of AZA1 and the toxin profiles in three tissue compartments of mussels. The second most abundant bioconversion product was identified as AZA17, a carboxyl analog of AZA3, which is a key intermediate in the formation of AZA3. Also, two pairs of isomeric hydroxyl analogs, AZA4/AZA5 and AZA7/AZA8, have been confirmed as bioconversion products for the first time. Ultra high resolution (100 k) MS studies showed that the most probable structural assignment for AZA17 is 22-carboxy-AZA3 and a mechanism for its facile decarboxylation to form AZA3 has been proposed.

A critical evaluation of liquid chromatography with hybrid linear ion trap-Orbitrap mass spectrometry for the determination of acidic contaminants in wastewater effluents.

Acidic pesticide and pharmaceutical contaminants were pre-concentrated and extracted from wastewater samples (500 mL) using solid-phase extraction. Analyte recoveries were 79-96%, with % RSD values in the range, 1.7-7.4%. Analyte identification and quantification were carried out using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) with hybrid linear ion trap (LIT) Orbitrap instrumentation. Using a resolution setting of 30,000 FWHM, full-scan MS analysis was performed using heated electrospray ionization (HESI) in negative mode. The high mass resolution capabilities of the Orbitrap MS were exploited for the determination of trace contaminants allowing facile discrimination between analytes and matrix. The dependant scan functions of the Orbitrap MS using higher collisional dissociation (HCD) and LIT MS were evaluated for the confirmation of analytes at trace concentration levels. Mass accuracy for target contaminants using this method was less than 2 ppm. The limits of quantitation (LOQs) were in the range, 2.1-27 ng/L. The inter-day accuracy and precision were measured over a five-day period at two concentrations. The % relative errors were in the range, 0.30-7.7%, and the % RSD values were in the range, 1.5-5.5%. Using this method, 2,4-D, mecoprop, ibuprofen, naproxene and gemfibrozil were identified in several wastewater treatment plants in Ireland.

Elucidation of the mass fragmentation pathways of the polyether marine toxins, dinophysistoxins, and identification of isomer discrimination processes

RATIONALE Most of the liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) methods that have been developed for the analysis of Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning (DSP) toxins in shellfish and algae samples have been unable to differentiate the isomers okadaic acid (OA) and dinophysistoxin-2 (DTX2), unless separated by chromatography. Since there are many bioconversion products of these compounds it is imperative to determine characteristic product ions, which can provide unequivocal identification of OA and DTX2 and their analogs. METHODS Using electrospray ionization, the fragmentation processes for two types of precursor ions, [M+Na](+) and [M-H](-), of the polyether marine toxins, dinophysistoxins (DTXs), were studied using a hybrid linear ion trap Orbitrap mass spectrometer which provided high mass accuracy data in combination with multiple tandem mass (MS(n)) spectra. Three structurally related toxins were compared; okadaic acid (OA), dinophysistoxin-2 (DTX2) and dinophysistoxin-1 (DTX1). A quick multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) LC/MS/MS method was developed utilizing the characteristic precursor/product ion mass transitions. RESULTS Comparison of the high-resolution product ion, [M-H](-), spectra of these toxins featured dominant signals that resulted from two six-centered rearrangements and previously proposed fragmentation pathways for the ion of m/z 321 and 293 have been corrected and identified. By contrast, the [M+Na](+) product ion spectra only revealed distinctive ions for the isomers, OA (m/z 595, 443 and 151) and DTX2 (m/z 581, 429 and 165). To illustrate the benefits of this study, a mass selective LC/MS/MS method was developed in which the isomers OA and DTX2 co-eluted but were distinguished using the mass transitions, m/z 827/595, 827/443 (OA) and m/z 827/581, 827/429 (DTX2). CONCLUSIONS Comparison of OA, DTX2 and DTX1 led to the correction of proposed negative ion mode fragmentation pathways. Through extensive study and comparison of the [M+Na](+) product ion spectra, distinctive product ions were identified which allowed for these compounds to be identified and distinguished without separation for the first time.

Liquid Chromatography–Hybrid Linear Ion Trap–High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (LTQ-Orbitrap) Method for the Determination of Glycoalkaloids and Their Aglycons in Potato Samples

Potatoes produce biologically active secondary metabolites like glycoalkaloids and their aglycons, which may have both adverse and beneficial effects in the diet. A new analytical method that uses liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LTQ-Orbitrap) has been developed for the analysis of glycoalkaloids and their aglycons in potato samples. Two glycoalkaloids, α-solanine and α-chaconine, and two aglycons, demissidine and solasodine, were quantified in potato samples. Samples were extracted using methanol, purified on an SPE Strata C18 cartridge, and then analyzed in HPLC–mass spectrometry (LTQ-Orbitrap) with the FTMS operating in full scan at a resolving power of 30,000 (FWHM), enabling the detection and accurate mass measurement and with the ITMS mode operating in MRM (multiple reaction monitoring) for glycoalkaloids and their aglycons using the [M + H]+ ions and their optimized collision energies. After validation, the method was applied to screen different type of potatoes, and some cooking experiment were conducted.

Development and validation of a high-resolution LTQ Orbitrap MS method for the quantification of isoflavones in wastewater effluent.

Isoflavones and coumestranes are the most important classes of compounds among phytoestrogens; by binding to estrogen receptors, they mimic or modulate the effect on the endogenous receptors. Little information can be found in literature about the presence of isoflavones and coumestrol in the environment, even if it is known that this may have significance, being these substances classified as endocrine disrupting compounds. In this research, we aim to explore the capabilities of the LTQ Orbitrap Discovery hybrid MS in full-scan acquisition mode, with high resolution, to validate an analytical method for the quantification of nine isoflavones (genistein, genistin, glycitein, daidzein, daidzin, (R,S)-equol, biochanin A, formononetin and coumestrol) in wastewater samples. The correlation coefficients of calibration curves of the nine analyzed compounds were in a range of 0.996-0.999; recoveries at two different levels of concentration (0.05 and 0.5 µg/l) were in the range 73-98%, and the limits of detection ranged between 0.0014 and 0.017 µg/l, proving that this method is sensitive enough in comparison with other methods available in literature. This method has been applied for the analysis of 20 wastewater treatment plants in County Cork, Ireland.

High-performance liquid chromatography LTQ-Orbitrap mass spectrometry method for tomatidine and non-target metabolites quantification in organic and normal tomatoes.

Abstract Tomatoes, members of the Solanaceae plant family, produce biologically active secondary metabolites, including glycoalkaloids and aglycons, which may have both adverse and beneficial biological effects. A new liquid chromatography method that utilized LTQ-Orbitrap MS was developed for the analysis of tomatidine, the main aglycon in tomatoes. Recoveries of tomatidine were >98.3% with the relative standard deviations (RSDs) below 6.1%. The limit of detection (LODs) was 0.0003 mg kg−1. The limit of quantitation (LOQs) is 0.001 mg kg−1. The linear range was between with 0.0025 and 1 mg kg−1 with an excellent correlation coefficient (R2) equal to 0.9990. Various tomato samples were analyzed and the level of tomatidine in the 11 samples analysed was higher in normal respect to organic tomatoes. The capability of the set-up Full Scan LTQ-Orbitrap MS method allowed us to quantified two non-target analytes. The m/z 1032 was identified as dehydrotomatine, confirmed through accurate mass studies (mass error in ppm equal to 1.5017) meanwhile m/z 902 as (Glc)2–Gal-Tomatidine (β1-Tomatine) (mass error in ppm equal to 2.0719).