Extraordinary science with Tony Purcell

The Purcell laboratory at Monash University is revolutionizing how we study the immune system and its role in disease

Revolutionizing the immune system study with immunopeptidomics

The immune system acts as a powerful network, detecting infections, cancer, and diseases by sensing pathogen molecules, abnormal proteins, and metabolic changes. Immunopeptidomics focuses on studying proteins processed and presented on cell surfaces with molecules encoded by the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). MHC molecules are highly diverse, binding various antigens, lipids, and metabolites. Identifying these molecules requires robust LC-MS methodology and sequence-rich MS/MS spectra. In this presentation, Prof. Tony Purcell discusses utilizing the ZenoTOF 7600 system for accurate antigen identification and quantitation leveraging the Zeno trap with SWATH DIA (data independent acquisition), targeted workflows and electron activated dissociation (EAD) fragmentation.

Key takeaways

Leveraging the ZenoTOF 7600 system for the analyses of HLA-bound peptides as targets for immunotherapy
Learn about:

  • Why sensitive assays are needed to detect neoepitopes
  • How Zeno MS/MS increases the sensitivity of HLA peptide identification
  • How the use of EAD can impact the identification of post-translational modifications (PTMs) and singly charged peptides
  • How structural information optimization can improve HLA peptide fragmentation, which can be poor with only collision induced dissociation (CID)

Watch Prof. Tony Purcell’s extraordinary science

Fast and accurate identification and antibiotic resistance profiling of microorganisms in blood cultures by SWATH DIA proteomics

About the presenter

Prof. Anthony Purcell, Ph.D.
Monash University, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Purcell Laboratory
Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute

Tony Purcell is an NHMRC Principal Research Fellow and Deputy Head of Biochemistry at Monash University. He is also Vice President of the Australasian Proteomics Society and a HuPO council member. With extensive editorial roles and advisory positions, Tony's influence spans academia and industry. In his laboratory, Tony explores the immunopeptidome's role in infection, inflammation, and autoimmune diseases. His research highlights the significance of post-translational modifications in immunity. Tony's collaborations with SCIEX and contributions to over 290 publications establish him as a leader in immunopeptidomics, shaping the future of biomedical research.

The fundamentals behind extraordinary science

Zeno trap
The innovation of the Zeno trap solves the duty cycle issue observed on other QTOF instruments. As ions are accumulated in the Zeno trap before being pulsed rapidly into the TOF, up to 20x more fragment ions can be detected. Each TOF experiment therefore acquires more useful MS/MS information, including for lower abundance species that were previously undetectable. The use of the Zeno trap introduces researchers to a new level of sensitivity.
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Zeno SWATH DIA
Zeno SWATH data-independent acquisition (DIA) combines the sensitivity of the Zeno trap with the reproducibility and precision of SWATH DIA to deliver unprecedented levels of analyte identification and quantitation. The 6–10x sensitivity gains in MS/MS mode that the Zeno trap provides through duty cycle improvements deliver up to 3x more identified proteins and approximately 3–6x more quantified proteins at loads less than 20 ng. This leads to a more comprehensive understanding of underlying biological changes. With Zeno SWATH DIA, maximal information is obtained from each precious sample.
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Electron associated dissociation (EAD)
EAD is a step-change in fragmentation technology that allows for a range of free electron-based fragmentation mechanisms within 1 device. The ability to tune electron kinetic energy within an EAD experiment extends the utility of the approach to all molecule types, ranging from singly charged small molecules to large multiply charged proteins.
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