Orthogonal Insights from LC-MS and MALS for GLP-1 Analogs

Presentation 1 (15 Min)

Pathogenesis of blinding corneal infections with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

Presented by

Karl Liboro, Ph.D. (Final Quarter)

Molecular/Cellular Immunology and Microbiology

UCI

Abstract: Microbial keratitis (infection of the cornea) is a leading cause of blindness worldwide with S. aureus infections becoming increasingly prevalent with the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, including MRSA. Inflammation in the cornea is largely driven by neutrophil secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1beta, which has been studied as a potential druggable target.

Using a murine model of corneal infection, we show that the severity of disease caused by MRSA clinical isolates is tied to the production of cytolytic toxin alpha-hemolysin, which induces processing and secretion of IL-1beta in neutrophils. My study identified an amino acid residue predicted to impact alpha-hemolysin-receptor binding required for IL-1beta secretion. These studies identify potential targets for pharmacological intervention.

Biography:

I am a scientist with in vitro and in vivo expertise in molecular/cellular immunology and microbiology. For my Ph.D., I led two cross-functional collaborative studies on corneal infections where we identified novel functions of S. aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacterial toxins in regulating pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1beta with potential as therapeutic targets (Minns, 2023). For my M.S., I identified roles of Yeast Casein Kinase 2 in regulating biofilm formation, drug susceptibility, and reactive oxygen species production using functional cell assays in the fungal pathogen Candida albicans (Liboro, 2021; Jung, 2017).

Presentation 2 (45 Min)

Seeing the Whole Elephant: Orthogonal Insights from LC-MS and MALS for GLP-1 Analogs

Presented By

Hadi Maktabi, Ph.D.

Biopharma Business Development Specialist

Waters Technologies

Abstract: The remarkable clinical success of GLP-1 analogs in treating diabetes and obesity has made them a critical class of therapeutics. However, their complex structures, chemical conjugations, and tendency to aggregate present significant analytical challenges, requiring advanced, orthogonal approaches for comprehensive characterization. This presentation will demonstrate an integrated workflow that combines the high-resolution precision of a Waters LC-MS system with the absolute molar mass and aggregation insights from a Wyatt multi-angle light scattering (MALS) detector. Together, these complementary techniques provide a deeper understanding of GLP-1 analogs—from identifying and quantifying impurities to characterizing size and aggregation states. Through practical examples, I will illustrate how this robust workflow enables confident, regulatory-compliant analysis and highlight Waters' role as an industry partner delivering the tools and expertise needed to accelerate the development of safe and effective biotherapeutics.

Biography: Hadi Maktabi, Ph.D., is the Biopharma Business Development Specialist at Waters, supporting customers across the U.S. West and Canada in advancing analytical solutions for therapeutic development. In this role, he partners with biopharma scientists to apply cutting-edge LC-MS and biophysical technologies to address complex drug development challenges.

Prior to joining Waters, Hadi worked at ProteinSimple, where he supported biopharma researchers in applying capillary electrophoresis–based techniques (cIEF, CE-SDS, and SimpleWestern) for biotherapeutic characterization. He earned his PhD in Molecular Cell Biology from Washington University in St. Louis, where his dissertation research focused on protein palmitoylation dynamics and their role in membrane binding, trafficking, and spatial organization of signaling proteins, notably in regulating GPCR signaling.

Info: Pathogenesis of blinding corneal infections with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

Info: Seeing the Whole Elephant: Orthogonal Insights from LC-MS and MALS for GLP-1 Analogs

Info: Abstract: The remarkable clinical success of GLP-1 analogs in treating diabetes and obesity has made them a critical class of therapeutics. However, their complex structures, chemical conjugations, and tendency to aggregate present significant analytical challenges, requiring advanced, orthogonal approaches for comprehensive characterization. This presentation will demonstrate an integrated workflow that combines the high-resolution precision of a Waters LC-MS system with the absolute molar mass and aggregation insights from a Wyatt multi-angle light scattering (MALS) detector. Together, these complementary techniques provide a deeper understanding of GLP-1 analogs—from identifying and quantifying impurities to characterizing size and aggregation states. Through practical examples, I will illustrate how this robust workflow enables confident, regulatory-compliant analysis and highlight Waters' role as an industry partner delivering the tools and expertise needed to accelerate the devel

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