title: Identification of mycobacteria by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry.
abstract: Classical methods for identification of Mycobacterium species rely on morphology and biochemical profiles. Speciation of a Mycobacterium isolate using these standard methods is a lengthy process based on subjective data interpretation. In this study, Mycobacterium species were characterized by utilizing matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). This technology is designed to provide a characteristic mass spectral fingerprint based on desorbed ions from the cell surface. Thirty-seven strains were analyzed; these represented thirteen species and five subspecies that included the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex and the M. avium-M. intracellulare complex, as well as rapid- and slow-growing mycobacteria. All 37 strains were analyzed in triplicate, and a database was generated. This method produced species-specific patterns for all but 1 of the 37 isolates and provided reliable differentiation at the strain level. The data suggest that whole-cell MALDI-TOF MS has potential as a rapid and reproducible method for the identification and characterization of Mycobacterium species.
authors.affiliation: Bacteriology Program, American Type Culture Collection, 10801 University Blvd., Manassas, Virginia 20110, USA.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pignone
authors.forename: Kimberly M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Greth
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Emerson
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D006801:Humans; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000145:classification* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009164:Mycobacterium Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D015269:Mycobacterium avium Complex / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013045:Species Specificity; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods