title: Efficient identification of Malassezia yeasts by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Infections caused by Malassezia yeasts are most likely underdiagnosed, because fatty acid supplementation is needed for growth. Rapid identification of Malassezia species is essential for appropriate treatment of Malassezia-related skin infections, fungaemia and nosocomial outbreaks in neonates, children and adults and can be life-saving for those patients. Ma-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) has been reported to be a rapid and reliable diagnostic tool to identify clinically important yeasts, but so far no data have been reported on identification of Malassezia isolates with this technique.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To create an extensive database of main mass spectra (MSPs) that will allow quick identification of Malassezia species by MALDI-TOF MS.
  
  
  METHODS
  An in-house library of 113 MSPs was created from 48 reference strains from the CBS-KNAW yeast collection. The in-house library was challenged with two test sets of Malassezia strains, namely 165 reference strains from the CBS collection and 338 isolates collected in Greece, Italy, Sweden and Thailand.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MALDI-TOF MS allowed correct identification of all 14 Malassezia spp. MALDI-TOF MS results were concordant with those of sequence analyses of the internal transcribed spacers (ITS1/ITS2) and the D1/D2 domains of the large subunit of the ribosomal DNA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Implementation of the MALDI-TOF MS system as a routine identification tool will contribute to correct identification of Malassezia yeasts with minimal effort and in a short turnaround time, which is especially important for the rapid identification of Malassezia in skin diseases and nosocomial outbreaks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Yeast and Basidiomycete Research, CBS-KNAW Fungal Biodiversity Centre, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584CT, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kolecka
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Khayhan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arabatzis
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Velegraki
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kostrzewa
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Andersson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scheynius
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cafarchia
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Iatta
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Montagna
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Youngchim
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Cabañes
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hoopman
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kraak
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Groenewald
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Boekhout
mesh_terms: D003881:Dermatomycoses / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015723:Gene Library; D006801:Humans; D008290:Malassezia / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012016:Reference Values; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / Q000379:methods*