PNNL

Abstract

The concept of rapid microorganism identification using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) dates back to the mid-1990’s. Prior to 1998, researchers relied on visual inspection in an effort to demonstrate feasibility of MALDI-MS for bacterial identification (Holland, Wilkes et al. 1996), (Krishnamurthy and Ross 1996), (Claydon, Davey et al. 1996). In general, researchers in these early studies visually compared the biomarker intensity profiles between different organisms and between replicates of the same organism to show that MALDI signatures are unique and reproducible. Manual tabulation and comparison of potential biomarker mass values observed for different organisms was used by numerous researchers to qualitatively characterize microorganisms using MALDI-MS spectra (e.g. (Lynn, Chung et al. 1999), (Winkler, Uher et al. 1999), (Ryzhov, Hathout et al. 2000), (Nilsson 1999)).