Research feed 
Overview 
Research Feed 
Update History 2025-08-01 07:40:31
Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) majorpublished
Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) is capable of detecting and quantifying elements at parts-per-trillion (ppt) levels. The technique links environmental, clinical, and molecular microbiology by revealing how essential and toxic metals shape community structure and function.
Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS)
Researched by:
-
Karen Pendergrass
ID
Karen Pendergrass
Read MoreKaren Pendergrass is a microbiome researcher specializing in microbiome-targeted interventions (MBTIs). She systematically analyzes scientific literature to identify microbial patterns, develop hypotheses, and validate interventions. As the founder of the Microbiome Signatures Database, she bridges microbiome research with clinical practice. In 2012, based on her own investigative research, she became the first documented case of FMT for Celiac Disease—four years before the first published case study.
OverviewInductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) is an analytical technique used to determine the elemental composition of a sample by ionizing the sample with an inductively coupled plasma and then measuring the mass-to-charge ratio of the ions. ICP-MS is a highly sensitive method, capable of detecting elements at trace and ultra-trace levels, making it valuable in […]
-
Karen Pendergrass
Read More
Researched by:
-
Karen Pendergrass
ID
Karen Pendergrass
Read More
Microbiome Signatures identifies and validates condition-specific microbiome shifts and interventions to accelerate clinical translation. Our multidisciplinary team supports clinicians, researchers, and innovators in turning microbiome science into actionable medicine.
Karen Pendergrass
Overview
Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) is an analytical technique used to determine the elemental composition of a sample by ionizing the sample with an inductively coupled plasma and then measuring the mass-to-charge ratio of the ions. ICP-MS is a highly sensitive method, capable of detecting elements at trace and ultra-trace levels, making it valuable in various fields like environmental monitoring, geochemistry, materials science, and metallomic signature characterizations for various conditions, including Alzheimer’s dementia, and Parkinson’s disease.
Detection
ICP-MS is known for detecting very low concentrations of elements, often at the parts-per-trillion (ppt) level or even parts-per-quadrillion (ppq). It can simultaneously detect multiple elements in a single measurement. ICP-MS can also be used to determine the isotopic composition of elements, which can be valuable in various applications, including geochemistry and environmental studies.
Analytical purpose of ICP-MS in microbiome studies
Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) offers quantitative, multi-element and isotopic profiling of toxic metals, metalloids and selected non-metal elements in complex biological matrices (faeces, soils, culture broths, host tissues). Applications include:
| Application | Example outputs | Relevance |
|---|---|---|
| Metallome characterisation | µg kg⁻¹ dry-weight concentrations of >70 elements | Nutrient limitation, metal-driven community shifts |
| Heavy-metal exposure | Cd, Pb, Hg, As at ng g⁻¹ levels | Ecotoxicology, urban microbiome surveillance |
| Stable-isotope tracing | ⁵⁷Fe / ⁵⁶Fe, ⁷⁰Zn / ⁶⁴Zn ratios | Nutrient flux, trophic interactions |
Research Feed
Metallomic signatures of brain tissues distinguishes between cases of dementia with Lewy bodies, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease dementia
June 26, 2024
/
Metallomic Signatures •
Metallomic Signatures
Did you know?
Metallomic signatures can reveal hidden drivers of disease by mapping how trace metals like nickel, iron, and cadmium shape microbial behavior and immune responses. These signatures not only help identify toxic exposures but also spotlight metal-dependent pathogens, offering new targets for precision-guided therapies.
Alias iure reprehenderit aut accusantium. Molestiae dolore suscipit. Necessitatibus eum quaerat. Repudiandae suscipit quo necessitatibus. Voluptatibus ullam nulla temporibus nobis. Atque eaque sed totam est assumenda. Porro modi soluta consequuntur veritatis excepturi minus delectus reprehenderit est. Eveniet labore ut quas minima aliquid quibusdam. Vitae possimus fuga praesentium eveniet debitis exercitationem deleniti.
Create a free account to unlock this study summary.
Microbiome Insiders can read two study summaries for any topic on Microbiome.
Update History
Metallomic Signatures
A metallomic signature is the condition-specific profile of trace metals and metal-binding molecules that reflects disrupted metal homeostasis.
Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease is increasingly recognized as a systemic disorder involving coordinated disturbances across the gut–brain axis, rather than a condition confined to dopaminergic neurodegeneration alone. Converging evidence implicates gut dysbiosis, altered microbial metabolites, impaired intestinal barrier integrity, and metal dyshomeostasis as upstream drivers of neuroinflammation and alpha-synuclein pathology. These interconnected microbiome, metabolomic, and metallomic signals provide a mechanistic framework for understanding disease initiation, progression, and therapeutic targeting beyond the central nervous system.
Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease is increasingly recognized as a systemic disorder involving coordinated disturbances across the gut–brain axis, rather than a condition confined to dopaminergic neurodegeneration alone. Converging evidence implicates gut dysbiosis, altered microbial metabolites, impaired intestinal barrier integrity, and metal dyshomeostasis as upstream drivers of neuroinflammation and alpha-synuclein pathology. These interconnected microbiome, metabolomic, and metallomic signals provide a mechanistic framework for understanding disease initiation, progression, and therapeutic targeting beyond the central nervous system.
Metallomic Signatures
A metallomic signature is the condition-specific profile of trace metals and metal-binding molecules that reflects disrupted metal homeostasis.