Microorganism Identification by Mass Spectrometry and Protein Database Searches

• DOI: 10.1021/ac990165u
• Publication Date: 2002-07-26T05:30:26Z
• Authors: Plamen A. Demirev; Yen-Peng Ho; Victor Ryzhov; Catherine Fenselau
• Keywords: Identification

A method for rapid identification of microorganisms is presented, which exploits the wealth information contained in prokaryotic genome and protein sequence databases. The based on determining masses a set ions by MALDI TOF mass spectrometry intact or treated cells. Subsequent correlation each ion to protein, along with organismic source performed searching an Internet-accessible database. Convoluting lists all ranking organisms corresponding matched results microorganism. has been successfully demonstrated B. subtilis E. coli, two completely sequenced genomes. also tested from spectra mixtures microorganisms, organism at different growth stages, originating other laboratories. Experimental factors such as matrix preparation, spectral reproducibility, contaminants, range, measurement accuracy database search procedure are addressed too. proposed several advantages over MS methods microorganism identification.