1336 Proteomics Clin. Appl. 2007, 1, 1332–1337

specimen collection, depletion ofabundant proteins, technology plat-form comparison and searching algo-rithm evaluation. The following threechapters report on fundamental aspectsof the pilot phase, as the standardiza-tion of parameters for plasma pro-teome specimens collection and hand-ling (Chapter 3), procedures for ho-mogenization of data management andanalysis (Chapter 2) and immunoassayand antibody microarray validation ofresults obtained for the reference spe-cimens (Chapter 4).

The remainder of the book reportson the results of more focused studies,centered on different aspects of theplasma proteome analysis. Depletionof highly abundant proteins fromserum and plasma to improve sensi-tivity and limits of detection in proteinprofiling is treated in Chapter 5, whilea study of glycoproteins contained inserum and plasma by multilectin af-finity chromatography is described inChapter 7.

Strategies for protein and peptideseparation are discussed in differentchapters; a novel four-dimensionalapproach enabling detection of lowabundance proteins is the subject ofChapter 6, prefractionation methodsfor multidimensional based chroma-tography of serum proteins are report-ed in Chapter 8, while two-dimensionalmap construction following pre-fractionation of low abundant proteinsis exposed in Chapter 9.

Three chapters are dedicated tomass spectrometric techniques foridentification of proteins contained inplasma and serum. Chapter 10 offers acomprehensive comparison of five dif-ferent strategies, including intact pro-tein fractionation by anion exchangechromatography followed by 2-DPAGE and MALDI-TOF/TOF, intactprotein fractionation by 2-D liquidchromatography followed by trypticdigestion of each fraction and LC-ESI-MS/MS, online and offline MudPITand offline MudPIT followed by re-analysis of fractions by optimizednanoRP-ESI LC-MS/MS. An accuratemass and time tag strategy, developedat Pacific Northwest National Labora-

tory and based on the use of ion-trapFourier-transform ICR MS, is de-scribed in chapter 11, while the appli-cation of surface-enhanced laser de-sorption/ionization (SELDI)-TOF MSto the analysis of plasma and serum isdetailed in Chapter 12.

Bioinformatic challenges presentedby the HUPO PPP are reviewed in fourchapters, devoted to a comparison ofpublicly available MS/MS search algo-rithms (Chapter 13), to the inclusion ofbinary MS data in public proteomicdata repositories (Chapter 15) and tofunctional annotation of subproteomesdiscovered so far in human plasma(Chapter 16). Chapter 14 presents theHuman Plasma PeptideAtlas process,an initiative lead by the laboratory ofRuedi Aebersold to create and makepublic a genome-mapped atlas of pep-tides observed in sets of LC-MS/MSexperiments and derived solely fromhuman plasma and serum.

Finally, Chapter 17 deals with car-diovascular-related proteins identifiedin human plasma by HUPO PPP.

This book constitutes a referencefor analysis of human plasma andserum specimens and sets a milestonefor future developments in this chal-lenging field. A most recommendedread for proteomic scientists world-wide.

Giuliano EliaDirector, Mass Spectrometry ResourceConway Institute for Biomolecular andBiomedical ResearchUniversity College DublinBelfield, Dublin 4Ireland

Comparative Genomics

and Proteomics in Drug

Discovery

John Parrington and Kevin Coward(Eds.)Taylor and Francis, 2006, pp. 164ISBN: 9780415396530ISBN10: 0415396530

This short monograph (about 180pages in 7 chapters) covers someselected aspects of the field of transla-tional research, in particular infectiousdiseases. Translational research can bedefined as the interface between theresearch laboratory (“bench”) andpatient care (“bedside”). The purposeof this book is to provide an introduc-tion to the concepts behind the fieldsof comparative genomics and prote-omics and their specific application indrug discovery. After highlighting fiveapplications of translational research(trypanosomiasis, leishmaniasis,malaria, nematode parasites andsodium channel inhibitors), therespected authors analyze the factorscontributing to the inability to rapidlymove the products of “omics” plat-forms towards standardized, reproduc-ible, clinical diagnostic tools, andexplore the role of the Internet inidentifying novel molecular targets fordrug action. The process of translationof a discovery in the laboratory (e.g. ofa potential biological marker) to its

© 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim www.clinical.proteomics-journal.com

Proteomics Clin. Appl. 2007, 1, 1332–1337 1337

clinical implementation seems to bewhere the products of “omics” plat-forms get lost. The authors concludethat multidimensional partnershipsbetween academics, clinicians, bioen-gineers, statisticians and computa-tional/system biologists will be

required to generate the platforms,data and tools to provide total healthmanagement. The book assumesknowledge of basic molecular biologyand is targeted at researchers and aca-demics in the related areas of biome-dicine and pharmaceutics.

Marc A. Reymond, MD.Klinik für Allgemein-, Viszeral- undThoraxchirurgieEvangelisches Krankenhaus BielefeldAkademisches Lehrkrankenhaus derWestfälischen Wilhelms-UniversitätMünsterD-33611 BielefeldGermany

Meetings Diary

For a list of proteomics related meetings and courses please go to the online meetings diary at http://www.goproteomics.com

© 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim www.clinical.proteomics-journal.com