title: Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry for the discrimination of food-borne microorganisms.
abstract: A methodology based on matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry of intact bacterial cells was used for rapid discrimination of 24 bacterial species, and detailed analyses to identify Escherichia coli O157:H7 were carried out. Highly specific mass spectrometric profiles of pathogenic and nonpathogenic bacteria that are well-known major food contaminants were obtained, uploaded in a specific database, and made available on the Web. In order to standardize the analytical protocol, several experimental, sample preparation, and mass spectrometry parameters that can affect the reproducibility and accuracy of data were evaluated. Our results confirm the conclusion that this strategy is a powerful tool for rapid and accurate identification of bacterial species and that mass spectrometric methodologies could play an essential role in polyphasic approaches to the identification of pathogenic bacteria.
authors.affiliation: Proteomic and Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry Center, Institute of Food Science and Technology, CNR, via Roma 52 a/c, 83100 Avellino, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Fiorella
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Mazzeo
authors.forename: Alida
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sorrentino
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gaita
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cacace
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Stasio
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Facchiano
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Comi
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Malorni
authors.forename: Rosa Anna
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Siciliano
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000592:standards; D016208:Databases, Factual; D019453:Escherichia coli O157 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005516:Food Microbiology; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins