Spatial lipidomics of Fasciola hepatica using high-resolution AP-SMALDI Orbitrap MSI – a lipid tissue atlas
- 1Institute of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
- 2TransMIT GmbH, Giessen, Germany
- 3Institute of Parasitology, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
Abstract
Parasitic worms, helminths, cause significant morbidity and high infection rates globally. To understand parasite physiology and as basis for intervention strategies, knowledge on the parasite lipidome is a key component. High-resolution atmospheric pressure scanning microprobe MALDI MS imaging (AP-SMALDI MSI) enables spatially resolved molecular-level insights into biological samples. We applied this technique to study the lipidome of the common liver fluke Fasciola hepatica which causes fascioliasis in humans and grazing animals across all inhabited continents. In particular, four of the most relevant worm organs in terms of parasite-host contact and reproduction (tegument, intestine, ovary, and testis) were examined. We extracted m/z signals for each organ from AP-SMALDI MSI data of worm sections and the native sample surface, annotated them to lipid species using a database and eventually assigned 73% (positive-ion mode) and 61% (negative-ion mode) of the previously annotated signals to (bulk) lipid species by comparison with complementary LC-MS/MS data. Data revealed differences in the lipid constitution of the organs. Among other findings, we observed (Hex)Cer species exclusively present in the tegument and intestine, PS species to vary in abundance between dorsal and ventral tegument side, and PI lipids to occur with saturated C-chains in the tegument and with unsaturated ones in the gonads. High-resolution MSI also allowed for differentiation between intestinal ducts and gastrodermis and resolved several molecular layers in/around the ovary tissue. The comprehensive dataset comprises reproducibly detected lipid species and their distributions across the worm and offers a spatial lipidomic resource for investigators of F. hepatica and related species.
Related
- Analysis of rubber-derived contaminants in surface water and snow by liquid chromatography coupled with a hybrid linear ion-trap-Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry
- δ13C Determination of Benzoic Acid by High-Resolution Orbitrap MS: How Sample Introduction Strategy Governs Accuracy and Precision.
- Truthful visualizations for mass spectrometry imaging enable high-spatial-resolution interactive m/z mapping and exploration
- Choosing Spatial Resolution in the Residence-Time Approach to Local Diffusivity
- Quantitative Cryogenic Orbitrap Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry for structural characterization of lipid nanoparticles
BibTeX
@article{morawietz2026spatial,
title = {{Spatial lipidomics of Fasciola hepatica using high-resolution AP-SMALDI Orbitrap MSI – a lipid tissue atlas}},
author = {Carolin M. Morawietz and Stefanie Gerbig and Simone Haeberlein and Bernhard Spengler},
journal = {Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fcimb.2026.1934046},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2026.1934046},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Spatial lipidomics of Fasciola hepatica using high-resolution AP-SMALDI Orbitrap MSI – a lipid tissue atlas
AU - Carolin M. Morawietz
AU - Stefanie Gerbig
AU - Simone Haeberlein
AU - Bernhard Spengler
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/22
JO - Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
DO - 10.3389/fcimb.2026.1934046
UR - https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2026.1934046
AB - Parasitic worms, helminths, cause significant morbidity and high infection rates globally. To understand parasite physiology and as basis for intervention strategies, knowledge on the parasite lipidome is a key component. High-resolution atmospheric pressure scanning microprobe MALDI MS imaging (AP-SMALDI MSI) enables spatially resolved molecular-level insights into biological samples. We applied this technique to study the lipidome of the common liver fluke Fasciola hepatica which causes fascioliasis in humans and grazing animals across all inhabited continents. In particular, four of the most relevant worm organs in terms of parasite-host contact and reproduction (tegument, intestine, ovary, and testis) were examined. We extracted m/z signals for each organ from AP-SMALDI MSI data of worm sections and the native sample surface, annotated them to lipid species using a database and eventually assigned 73% (positive-ion mode) and 61% (negative-ion mode) of the previously annotated signals to (bulk) lipid species by comparison with complementary LC-MS/MS data. Data revealed differences in the lipid constitution of the organs. Among other findings, we observed (Hex)Cer species exclusively present in the tegument and intestine, PS species to vary in abundance between dorsal and ventral tegument side, and PI lipids to occur with saturated C-chains in the tegument and with unsaturated ones in the gonads. High-resolution MSI also allowed for differentiation between intestinal ducts and gastrodermis and resolved several molecular layers in/around the ovary tissue. The comprehensive dataset comprises reproducibly detected lipid species and their distributions across the worm and offers a spatial lipidomic resource for investigators of F. hepatica and related species.
SN - 2235-2988
ER -