title: Microbial typing by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry: do we need guidance for data interpretation?
abstract: The integration of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) in clinical microbiology has revolutionized species identification of bacteria, yeasts, and molds. However, beyond straightforward identification, the method has also been suggested to have the potential for subspecies-level or even type-level epidemiological analyses. This minireview explores MALDI-TOF MS-based typing, which has already been performed on many clinically relevant species. We discuss the limits of the method's resolution and we suggest interpretative criteria allowing valid comparison of strain-specific data. We conclude that guidelines for MALDI-TOF MS-based typing can be developed along the same lines as those used for the interpretation of data from pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE).
authors: bioMérieux SA, Unit Microbiology, R&D Microbiology, La Balme Les Grottes, France sebastien.spinali@biomerieux.com.
authors: Sébastien
authors: S
authors: Spinali
authors: bioMérieux SA, Unit Microbiology, R&D Microbiology, La Balme Les Grottes, France.
authors: Alex
authors: A
authors: van Belkum
authors: Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Creighton University Medical Center, School of Medicine, Omaha, Nebraska, USA.
authors: Richard V
authors: RV
authors: Goering
authors: bioMérieux SA, Unit Microbiology, R&D Microbiology, La Balme Les Grottes, France.
authors: Victoria
authors: V
authors: Girard
authors: bioMérieux SA, Unit Microbiology, R&D Microbiology, La Balme Les Grottes, France.
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Welker
authors: bioMérieux Inc., Unit Microbiology, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
authors: Marc
authors: M
authors: Van Nuenen
authors: bioMérieux Inc., St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
authors: David H
authors: DH
authors: Pincus
authors: bioMérieux SA, Unit Innovation and Systems, Marcy l'Etoile, France.
authors: Maud
authors: M
authors: Arsac
authors: bioMérieux SA, Unit Microbiology, R&D Microbiology, La Balme Les Grottes, France.
authors: Géraldine
authors: G
authors: Durand
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification*; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D005658:Fungi / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification*; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D016533:Mycological Typing Techniques / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / Q000379:methods*