Table Of ContentNATO Science for Peace and Security Series - A:
Chemistry and Biology
Toxic Chemical and
Biological Agents
Detection, Diagnosis and Health Concerns
Edited by
Giovanni Sindona
Joseph H. Banoub
Maria Luisa Di Gioia
AB 3
Toxic Chemical and Biological Agents
NATO Science for Peace and Security Series
This Series presents the results of scientific meetings supported under the NATO
Programme: Science for Peace and Security (SPS).
The NATO SPS Programme supports meetings in the following Key Priority areas: (1)
Defence Against Terrorism; (2) Countering other Threats to Security and (3) NATO,
Partner and Mediterranean Dialogue Country Priorities. The types of meeting supported
are generally “Advanced Study Institutes” and “Advanced Research Workshops”. The
NATO SPS Series collects together the results of these meetings. The meetings are
co-organized by scientists from NATO countries and scientists from NATO’s “Partner” or
“Mediterranean Dialogue” countries. The observations and recommendations made at
the meetings, as well as the contents of the volumes in the Series, reflect those of
participants and contributors only; they should not necessarily be regarded as reflecting
NATO views or policy.
Advanced Study Institutes (ASI) are high-level tutorial courses to convey the latest
developments in a subject to an advanced-level audience.
Advanced Research Workshops (ARW) are expert meetings where an intense but
informal exchange of views at the frontiers of a subject aims at identifying directions for
future action.
Following a transformation of the programme in 2006, the Series has been re-named and
re-organised. Recent volumes on topics not related to security, which result from meetings
supported under the programme earlier, may be found in the NATO Science Series.
The Series is published by IOS Press, Amsterdam, and Springer, Dordrecht, in conjunction
with the NATO Emerging Security Challenges Division.
Sub-Series
A. Chemistry and Biology Springer
B. Physics and Biophysics Springer
C. Environmental Security Springer
D. Information and Communication Security IOS Press
E. Human and Societal Dynamics IOS Press
http://www.nato.int/science
http://www.springer.com
http://www.iospress.nl
Series A: Chemistry and Biology
Toxic Chemical and
Biological Agents
Detection, Diagnosis and Health
Concerns
edited by
Giovanni Sindona
Department of Chemistry and Chemical Technology
University of Calabria
Arcavacata di Rende, Italy
Joseph H. Banoub
Special Projects Science Branch
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
and
Maria Luisa Di Gioia
Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nurture Science
University of Calabria
Rende, Italy
PublishedinCooperationwithNATOEmergingSecurityChallengesDivision
Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Study Institute on Detection,
Diagnosis and Health Concerns of Toxic Chemical and Biological Agents:
Mass Spectroscopy and Allied Topics Cetraro, Italy
September 29 - October 5, 2019
ISBN 978-94-024-2043-2 (PB)
ISBN 978-94-024-2040-1 (HB)
ISBN 978-94-024-2041-8 (e-book)
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-2041-8
Published by Springer,
P.O. Box 17, 3300 AA Dordrecht, The Netherlands.
www.springer.com
Printed on acid-free paper
All Rights Reserved
© Springer Nature B.V. 2020
This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the
whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation,
reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or
in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval,
electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology
now known or hereafter developed.
The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks,
etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement,
that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and
therefore free for general use.
The publisher, the authors, and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and
information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication.
Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, expressed or
implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions
that may have been made. The publisher remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional
claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Dedicated to the Memory of Professor
Giovanni Sindona
Professor Giovanni Sindona
Professor Giovanni Sindona, Department of
Chemistry, University of Calabria (Italy),
died on Thursday, January 16, 2020. We have
lost a dear friend, a scholar, and a
gentleman. Giovanni was born in Messina,
Italy, on April 9, 1949, and graduated with a
B.Sc. (Hons) Chemistry in 1972 from the
University of Messina. After completing his
Ph.D., Professor Sindona applied for
bioanalytical chemistry (mass spectrometry).
In 1978, he was awarded the “Alexander von
Humboldt Foundation Fellowship” by the
renowned Institute für Physikalische Chemie
at Bonn University. At the beginning of the
1980s, Professor Sindona became a NATO
scholar at King’s College London under the
direction of Professor Colin B. Reese where
he developed new strategies for the synthesis
of nucleic acids.
In 1990, he became Full Professor of
Organic Chemistry at the University of
Calabria and the University of Magna
Graecia Catanzaro teaching organic
chemistry. Throughout his academic career,
he held important management positions:
Dean of Mathematics, Physics, and Natural
Sciences faculty from 1994 to 1997.
Professor Sindona directed the Department
of Chemistry from 1997 to 2003 and from
2007 to 2015 during the establishment of the
former Department of Chemistry and
Chemical Technologies.
Between 1990 to 2019, Professor Sindona
organized and directed five NATO
International Schools for young researchers
on the application of mass spectrometry to
biomolecular chemistry in Italy and abroad.
In 2009, he became Co-director of NATO-
ASI, Science for Peace and Security
Programme for experts on the Detection of
Biological Agents and Toxins for the
Prevention of Bioterrorism in Homeland
Security.
Professor Sindona has been a member of
the Italian Society of Chemistry (SCI), where
he was President of the Mass Spectrometry
Division and coordinator of the
interdivisional group of proteomic. He was
President of the SCI Calabria section, and
from 1979 he was permanent member of the
Alexander von-Humboldt Foundation.
Professor Sindona was member of the
American Society of Mass Spectrometry
since 1990. He was awarded the “Piria
Award for research” in 2008, and in 2011 he
received the international award “Il
Bergamotto” for his studies on the research
activity linked to Calabria region.
Rest in peace old friend and travel safely
through the universe.
Joseph H Banoub (Canada)
Leonardo Di Donna (Italy)
Preface
This new book entitled Detection, Diagnosis and Health Concerns of Toxic
Chemical and Biological Agents: Mass Spectrometry and Allied Topics represents
the main lectures given at the NATO ASI (Advanced Study Institute), which was
held successfully at the Grand Hotel San Michele, Cetraro, Italy, from September
29 to October 5, 2019.
First of all, this NATO-ASI would have not been possible without the excellent
help and coordination from the NATO Science Committee of the Science for Peace
and Security (SPS) Programme. This NATO-ASI was organized by the two
Co-directors—Professor Giovanni Sindona (Univ. of Calabria) and Professor Marc
Suter (EAWAG)—and members of the Organizing Committee—Joseph Banoub
(Fisheries & Oceans Canada), Richard Caprioli (Vanderbilt Univ.), Maria Luisa Di
Gioa (Univ. Calabria), and Gianluca Giorgi (Univ. of Siena).
We all were truly saddened by the untimely death of Professor Giovanni Sindona,
several months after this NATO-ASI. We decided to dedicate this NATO-ASI to the
memory of Professor Sindona, who, besides being one of the best scientist in Italy,
was also a real pioneer in organizing similar NATO-ASI meetings in the last decades.
This NATO-ASI meeting opening session was presented by the “Al Maginifico”
Rettore, Della Universita Di Calabria, the Professor Gino Cressi and the General
Commander Gerardo Sica Della Assozione Nationale Carabinieri Di Cozenza. This
meeting began with a presentation by Dr. Joseph Banoub (Fisheries and Oceans
Canada) describing the NATO Science for Peace and Security Programme to the
audience, a quick tour in the history of the NATO-ASI Scientific Programme and its
past and present successes. We are indebted to Professor Caprioli who was instru-
mental in inviting the best lecturers and to avail secured funding from the
manufacturers.
The topics to be covered include detection and effect of exposure of biological
agents and new innovative molecular detection technologies. In general, the main
topics discussed involved the following: risks and consequences of chemical and
biological agents to human health in general with special emphasis on all the bio-
chemical and metabolic pathways including the productive systems. The exposome,
genetic risk, and environment, the various health hazard agents, risk assessment,
ix
x Preface
environmental assessment and preparedness, and analysis of sublethal effects at the
molecular level were examined.
The participants were introduced to the state-of-the-art biological agent detec-
tion systems using soft-ionization mass spectrometry, tandem mass spectrometry,
and biological sensors and their efficacy in measuring very low concentrations
(pico- to femtomoles). Primary considerations in quantitative analysis with a focus
on MS and MS/MS and the role of MS and ion mobility on metabolomics were also
presented.
A discussion on several types of food bacteria, such as Salmonella, Campylobacter,
and Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli, which are among the most common food-
borne pathogens that could be used as a terror agent, took place. Their detection and
disease treatment were also defined.
In addition, the participants were also introduced to the different modes of tan-
dem mass spectrometry such as DDA and DIA scans.
Furthermore, a general description of the category A bacterial bioagents Bacillus
anthracis (anthrax) Yersinia pestis (plague) Francisella tularensis (tularemia),
which are responsible for the transmission, dissemination and causing high mortal-
ity rates and create panic in the public will be presented. Medical treatment was
conferred for symptoms. Considering that these biological agents may be engi-
neered to have multi-antibiotic resistance, prevention using synthetic neoglyconju-
gate vaccines was also examined.
Finally, the participants were initiated to the novel field of imaging mass spec-
trometry, which allows for the mapping of disease biomarkers and metabolic
changes in tissue and single cells.
All the participants who attended this NATO-ASI were graduate students, post-
doctoral fellows and faculty, and military scientists. The participants presented short
oral presentations and posters. In addition, all participants were given the opportu-
nity to have their contribution ready for publishing in NATO Science for Peace and
Security Series A: Chemistry and Biology (Springer) as short note.
St Johns, NL, Canada Joseph H. Banoub
Cosenza, Calabria, Italy Maria Luisa Di Gioa
