Identification of fungal microorganisms by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) has emerged as a reliable tool for fast identification and classification of microorganisms. In this regard, it represents a strong challenge to microscopic and molecular biology methods. Nowadays, commercial MALDI systems are accessible for biological research work as well as for diagnostic applications in clinical medicine, biotechnology and industry. They are employed namely in bacterial biotyping but numerous experimental strategies have also been developed for the analysis of fungi, which is the topic of the present review. Members of many fungal genera such as Aspergillus, Fusarium, Penicillium or Trichoderma and also various yeasts from clinical samples (e.g. Candida albicans) have been successfully identified by MALDI-TOF MS. However, there is no versatile method for fungi currently available even though the use of only a limited number of matrix compounds has been reported. Either intact cell/spore MALDI-TOF MS is chosen or an extraction of surface proteins is performed and then the resulting extract is measured. Biotrophic fungal phytopathogens can be identified via a direct acquisition of MALDI-TOF mass spectra e.g. from infected plant organs contaminated by fungal spores. Mass spectrometric peptide/protein profiles of fungi display peaks in the m/z region of 1000–20 000, where a unique set of biomarker ions may appear facilitating a differentiation of samples at the level of genus, species or strain. This is done with the help of a processing software and spectral database of reference strains, which should preferably be constructed under the same standardized experimental conditions.     

Rapid and reliable MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry identification of Candida non-albicans isolates from bloodstream infections

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry (MS) fingerprinting has recently become an effective instrument for rapid microbiological diagnostics and in particular for identification of micro-organisms directly in a positive blood culture. The aim of the study was to evaluate a collection of 82 stored yeast isolates from bloodstream infection, by MALDI-TOF MS; 21 isolates were identified also directly from positive blood cultures and in the presence of other co-infecting micro-organisms. Of the 82 isolates grown on plates, 64 (76%) were correctly identified by the Vitek II system and 82 (100%) by MALDI-TOF MS; when the two methods gave different results, the isolate was identified by PCR. MALDI-TOF MS was unreliable in identifying two isolates (Candida glabrata and Candida parapsilosis) directly from blood culture; however, direct analysis from positive blood culture samples was fast and effective for the identification of yeast, which is of great importance for early and adequate treatment.     

Identification of Gram-positive anaerobic cocci by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry

Gram-positive anaerobic cocci (GPAC) are part of the commensal microbiota of humans and are a phylogenetically heterogeneous group of organisms. To evaluate the suitability of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) for the identification of GPAC, a database was constructed, using reference strains of commonly encountered GPAC and clinical isolates of which the sequence of the 16S rRNA gene was determined. Subsequently, the database was validated by identifying 107 clinical isolates of GPAC. Results were compared with the identifications obtained by 16S sequencing or fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). Strains belonging to the same species grouped together, in most cases, by MALDI-TOF MS analyses. Strains with sequence similarities less than 98% to their closest relatives, formed clusters distinct from recognized species in the MALDI-TOF MS dendrogram and, therefore could not be identified. These strains probably represent new species. Only three clinical isolates (2 strains of Finegoldia magna and 1 strain of Anaerococcus vaginalis) could not be identified. For all the other GPAC strains (96/107), reliable identifications were obtained. Therefore, we concluded that MALDI-TOF MS is an excellent tool for the identification of phylogenetically heterogeneous groups of micro-organisms such as GPAC.     

MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry is a fast and reliable platform for identification and ecological studies of species from family Rhizobiaceae

Family Rhizobiaceae includes fast growing bacteria currently arranged into three genera, Rhizobium, Ensifer and Shinella, that contain pathogenic, symbiotic and saprophytic species. The identification of these species is not possible on the basis of physiological or biochemical traits and should be based on sequencing of several genes. Therefore alternative methods are necessary for rapid and reliable identification of members from family Rhizobiaceae. In this work we evaluated the suitability of Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) for this purpose. Firstly, we evaluated the capability of this methodology to differentiate among species of family Rhizobiaceae including those closely related and then we extended the database of MALDI Biotyper 2.0 including the type strains of 56 species from genera Rhizobium, Ensifer and Shinella. Secondly, we evaluated the identification potential of this methodology by using several strains isolated from different sources previously identified on the basis of their rrs, recA and atpD gene sequences. The 100% of these strains were correctly identified showing that MALDI-TOF MS is an excellent tool for identification of fast growing rhizobia applicable to large populations of isolates in ecological and taxonomic studies.     

基质辅助激光解吸电离飞行时间质谱技术用于常见益生菌鉴定的初步研究

目的建立基质辅助激光解吸电离飞行时间质谱(MADLI-TOF MS)技术鉴定常见益生菌的实验方法并对MADLI-TOF MS技术的适用性进行初步评价。方法对MADLI-TOF MS技术鉴定常见益生菌过程中各影响因素进行考察,筛选出最佳的实验条件。利用19株供试菌株所得的蛋白指纹图谱对MADLI-TOF MS技术的适用性进行研究。结果建立了MADLI-TOF MS技术鉴定常见益生菌的最佳实验方法。初步证明MADLI-TOF MS技术具备在属、种、亚种以及菌株水平上鉴定常见益生菌的能力。结论建立的实验方法稳定性高、重复性好,可以作为MADLI-TOF MS技术鉴定常见益生菌的参考方法。MADLI-TOF MS技术可以作为常见益生菌鉴定的方法之一。     

Evaluation of parameters in peptide mass fingerprinting for protein identification by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry

Protein identification by peptide mass fingerprinting, using the matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), plays a major role in large proteome projects. In order to develop a simple and reliable method for protein identification by MALDI-TOF MS, we compared and evaluated the major steps in peptide mass fingerprinting. We found that the removal of excess enzyme from the in-gel digestion usually gave a few more peptide peaks, which were important for the identification of some proteins. Internal calibration always gave better results. However, for a large number of samples, two step calibrations (i.e. database search with peptide mass from external calibration, then the use of peptide masses from the search result as internal calibrants) were useful and convenient. From the evaluation and combination of steps that were already developed by others, we established a single overall procedure for peptide identification from a polyacrylamide gel.     

Rapid species specific identification and subtyping of Yersinia enterocolitica by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry

Yersinia enterocolitica are Gram-negative pathogens and known as important causes of foodborne infections. Rapid and reliable identification of strains of the species Y. enterocolitica within the genus Yersinia and the differentiation of the pathogenic from the non-pathogenic biotypes has become increasingly important. We evaluated here the application of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) for rapid species identification and subtyping of Y. enterocolitica. To this end, we developed a reference MS database library including 19 Y. enterocolitica (non-pathogenic biotype 1A and pathogenic biotypes 2 and 4) as well as 24 non-Y. enterocolitica strains, belonging to eleven different other Yersinia spp. The strains provided reproducible and unique mass spectra profiles covering a wide molecular mass range (2000 to 30,000 Da). Species-specific and biotype-specific biomarker protein mass patterns were determined for Y. enterocolitica. The defined biomarker mass patterns (SARAMIS SuperSpectrum™) were validated using 117 strains from various Y. enterocolitica bioserotypes in a blind-test. All strains were correctly identified and for all strains the mass spectrometry-based identification scheme yielded identical results compared to a characterization by a combination of biotyping and serotyping. Our study demonstrates that MALDI-TOF-MS is a reliable and powerful tool for the rapid identification of Y. enterocolitica strains to the species level and allows subtyping of strains to the biotype level.     

Proteomic profiling and protein identification by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry in unsequenced parasitic nematodes

Lack of genomic sequence data and the relatively high cost of tandem mass spectrometry have hampered proteomic investigations into helminths, such as resolving the mechanism underpinning globally reported anthelmintic resistance. Whilst detailed mechanisms of resistance remain unknown for the majority of drug-parasite interactions, gene mutations and changes in gene and protein expression are proposed key aspects of resistance. Comparative proteomic analysis of drug-resistant and -susceptible nematodes may reveal protein profiles reflecting drug-related phenotypes. Using the gastro-intestinal nematode, Haemonchus contortus as case study, we report the application of freely available expressed sequence tag (EST) datasets to support proteomic studies in unsequenced nematodes. EST datasets were translated to theoretical protein sequences to generate a searchable database. In conjunction with matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS), Peptide Mass Fingerprint (PMF) searching of databases enabled a cost-effective protein identification strategy. The effectiveness of this approach was verified in comparison with MS/MS de novo sequencing with searching of the same EST protein database and subsequent searches of the NCBInr protein database using the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) to provide protein annotation. Of 100 proteins from 2-DE gel spots, 62 were identified by MALDI-TOF-MS and PMF searching of the EST database. Twenty randomly selected spots were analysed by electrospray MS/MS and MASCOT Ion Searches of the same database. The resulting sequences were subjected to BLAST searches of the NCBI protein database to provide annotation of the proteins and confirm concordance in protein identity from both approaches. Further confirmation of protein identifications from the MS/MS data were obtained by de novo sequencing of peptides, followed by FASTS algorithm searches of the EST putative protein database. This study demonstrates the cost-effective use of available EST databases and inexpensive, accessible MALDI-TOF MS in conjunction with PMF for reliable protein identification in unsequenced organisms.     

Identification of human liver cytochromes P450 by using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry

Proteomic approaches have been used for detection and identification of cytochromes P450 forms from highly purified membrane preparations of human liver. These included the protein separation by 2D-and/or 1D-electrophoresis and molecular scanning of a SDS-PAGE gel fragment in a range 45–66 kDa (this area corresponds molecular weights of cytochromes P450). The analysis of protein content was statistically evaluated by means of an original 1D-ZOOMER software package which allowed to carry out the processing of mass spectra mixture instead of individual mass spectra used by standard techniques. In the range 45–66 kDa we identified 13 microsomal membrane proteins including such cytochrome P450 forms as CYPs 1A2, 1B1, 2A6, 2E1, 2C8, 2C9, 2C10, 2D6, 3A4, 4A11, 4F2. Study of enzymatic activities of human liver microsomal cytochrome P450 isoforms CYP 1A, 2B, 3A, and 2E revealed the decrease in the rates of O-dealkylation and N-demethylation catalyzed by CYP 450 1A1/1A2 and 3A4 under pathological conditions, whereas 7-benzyloxyresorufin-O-debenzylase activity (which characterizes the total activity of CYP 2B and CYP 2C), the activities of CYP 2E1 (methanol oxidation), 7-pentoxyresorufin-O-dealkylation (CYP 2B), 7-ethoxy-and 7-methoxycoumarin-O-dealkylases (CYP 2B1) remained basically unchanged.     

In situ identification of plant-invasive bacteria with MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry

Rhizobia form a disparate collection of soil bacteria capable of reducing atmospheric nitrogen in symbiosis with legumes. The study of rhizobial populations in nature involves the collection of large numbers of nodules found on roots or stems of legumes, and the subsequent typing of nodule bacteria. To avoid the time-consuming steps of isolating and cultivating nodule bacteria prior to genotyping, a protocol of strain identification based on the comparison of MALDI-TOF MS spectra was established. In this procedure, plant nodules were considered as natural bioreactors that amplify clonal populations of nitrogen-fixing bacteroids. Following a simple isolation procedure, bacteroids were fingerprinted by analysing biomarker cellular proteins of 3 to 13 kDa using Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time of Flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. In total, bacteroids of more than 1,200 nodules collected from roots of three legumes of the Phaseoleae tribe (cowpea, soybean or siratro) were examined. Plants were inoculated with pure cultures of a slow-growing Bradyrhizobium japonicum strain G49, or either of two closely related and fast-growing Sinorhizobium fredii strains NGR234 and USDA257, or with mixed inoculants. In the fully automatic mode, correct identification of bacteroids was obtained for >97% of the nodules, and reached 100% with a minimal manual input in processing of spectra. These results showed that MALDI-TOF MS is a powerful tool for the identification of intracellular bacteria taken directly from plant tissues.     

Robustness of two MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry systems for bacterial identification

MALDI-TOF-MS systems (Microflex-Bruker Daltonics/BioTyper? and Axima-Assurance-Shimadzu/SARAMIS-AnagnosTec) were assessed for bacterial identification. Focusing on bacteria difficult to identify routinely, 296 strains were identified by molecular biology techniques as gold standard. MALDI-TOF-MS identification provided correct results at genus and species level for 94.9%, 83.4% and 83.8%, 65.9% with Biotyper and Saramis respectively.     

Rapid identification of acetic acid bacteria using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry fingerprinting

Acetic acid bacteria (AAB) are widespread microorganisms characterized by their ability to transform alcohols and sugar-alcohols into their corresponding organic acids. The suitability of matrix-assisted laser desorption-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) for the identification of cultured AAB involved in the industrial production of vinegar was evaluated on 64 reference strains from the genera Acetobacter, Gluconacetobacter and Gluconobacter. Analysis of MS spectra obtained from single colonies of these strains confirmed their basic classification based on comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. MALDI-TOF analyses of isolates from vinegar cross-checked by comparative sequence analysis of 16S rRNA gene fragments allowed AAB to be identified, and it was possible to differentiate them from mixed cultures and non-AAB. The results showed that MALDI-TOF MS analysis was a rapid and reliable method for the clustering and identification of AAB species.     

Analysis of glycated insulin by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry

Non-enzymatic glycation of protein is mediated via an interaction between the aldehyde group of a reducing sugar and available alpha- or epsilon-amino moieties of the protein. The above event can alter the biological activity of the protein and therefore, it is of particular interest to monitor the glycation of proteins having important functional roles in metabolism. In the present study, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) has been used to determine the non-enzymatic glycation of bovine insulin. The degree of insulin glycation was increased in both concentration- and time-dependent manner in relation to exposure to glucose, and the event was more pronounced for monoglycation reaction than that noticed for the diglycation of the hormone. Enzymatic digestion of insulin preparations with endoproteinase Glu C has revealed that each of the B 1-13 and B 22-30 peptide fragments of glycated insulin contains a site of binding of a single glucose molecule. Finally, attempt has been made in order to increase the sensitivity of the glycation assay through efficient enrichment of the glycated insulin on magnetic beads containing immobilized 3-aminophenylboronic acid (APBA) on their surface.     

Facile detection of specific RNA-polypeptide interactions by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry.

A simple method for the detection of specific RNA-polypeptide interactions using MALDI-TOF mass spectroscopy is described. Instead of direct observation of the RNA-polypeptide complex, we attempted the indirect observation of the binding event by focusing on the disappearance of the free polypeptide signal upon interaction with RNA. As a result, specific binding of the Rev-response element (RRE) RNA of the HIV with two RRE-binding peptide aptamers, DLA and RLA peptides, as well as the bacteriophage lambda boxB RNA with the lambda N peptide was observed. We also show that specific RNA-binding peptides can be identified from a mixture of peptides with varying RNA-binding affinity, showing that the method could be applied to high-throughput screening from simple peptide libraries. The method described in this study provides a quick and simple method for detecting specific RNA-polypeptide interactions that avoids difficulties associated with direct observation of RNA and RNA-polypeptide complexes, which may find various applications in the analysis of RNA-polypeptide interactions and in the identification of novel RNA-binding polypeptides. Copyright (c) 2008 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

基质辅助激光解吸电离飞行时间质谱技术作为常见益生菌菌种鉴定辅助工具的研究

目的评价基质辅助激光解吸电离飞行时间质谱(MALDI-TOF MS)技术用于常见益生菌菌株鉴定及潜在益生菌菌株筛选的可行性。方法利用16S rDNA序列分析在方法学上对MALDI-TOF MS技术的鉴定能力进行研究;通过MALDI-TOF MS技术对现有保藏菌株的鉴定结果研究MALDI-TOF MS技术的鉴定准确性及优越性。结果 MALDI-TOF MS技术具备较16S rDNA序列分析更高的菌株鉴定能力;MALDI-TOF MS技术的鉴定结果准确、稳定。结论 MALDI-TOF MS技术可以作为准确、快速、廉价及可高通量操作的菌株鉴定方法应用于常见益生菌菌株的鉴定及潜在益生菌菌株的筛选。     

Delineation of Stenotrophomonas spp. by multi-locus sequence analysis and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry

The genus Stenotrophomonas is genetically and phenotypically heterogeneous. Of the nine species now accepted, only S. maltophilia is of clinical importance. Based on DNA-sequences of seven house keeping genes, it encompasses genogroups of DNA-similarity below 97% that predominantly comprise strains of environmental origin. Therefore, in order to unravel the uneven distribution of environmental isolates within genogroups and reveal genetic relationships within the genus, there is need for an easy and reliable approach for the identification and delineation of Stenotrophomonas spp. In this first study, a multi-locus sequence analysis (MLSA) with seven housekeeping genes (atpD, gapA, guaA, mutM, nuoD, ppsA and recA) was applied for analysis of 21 S. maltophilia of environmental origin, Stenotrophomonas spp. and related genera. The genotypic findings were compared with the results of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) analyses. Our MLSA provided reliable inter- and intra-species discrimination of all tested isolates that correlated with the MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry data. One distantly related genogroup of environmental S. maltophilia strains needs to be reclassified as S. rhizophila. However, there are still remaining delineated S. maltophilia genogroups of predominantly environmental origin. Our data provide further evidence that ‘Pseudomonas’ beteli is a heterotypic synonym of S. maltophilia. Based on MLSA and MALDI-TOF data, Stenotrophomonas sp. (DSM 2408) belongs to S. koreensis.     

Mutation-tolerant protein identification by mass spectrometry.

Database search in tandem mass spectrometry is a powerful tool for protein identification. High-throughput spectral acquisition raises the problem of dealing with genetic variation and peptide modifications within a population of related proteins. A method that cross-correlates and clusters related spectra in large collections of uncharacterized spectra (i.e., from normal and diseased individuals) would be very valuable in functional proteomics. This problem is far from being simple since very similar peptides may have very different spectra. We introduce a new notion of spectral similarity that allows one to identify related spectra even if the corresponding peptides have multiple modifications/mutations. Based on this notion, we developed a new algorithm for mutation-tolerant database search as well as a method for cross-correlating related uncharacterized spectra.     

Identification by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry of 17 alpha-bromoacetamidopropylestradiol covalent attachment sites on estrogen receptor alpha

Mass spectrometry was used to identify the sites of covalent attachment of [(14)C]-17alpha-bromoacetamidopropylestradiol ([(14)C]17BAPE(2), an estradiol agonist) to the ligand-binding domain (LBD) of mouse estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha). A glutathione S-transferase (GST)-LBD chimera protein was overexpressed in Escherichia coli, using a vector encoding GST fused with a C-terminal portion of mouse ERalpha (Ser(313)-Ile(599)), via a sequence enclosing a thrombin cleavage site (located 14 amino acids ahead of Ser313). [(14)C]17BAPE(2) covalent labeling experiments were carried out on the GST-LBD chimera immobilized on glutathione-Sepharose. After thrombin cleavage of the chimeric LBD, two major [(14)C]17BAPE(2)-labeled species of 34 ( approximately 75%) and 30 kDa ( approximately 25%) were detected by SDS-PAGE and autoradiography. Their identity was assessed by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS): two main signals were consistent with the mass of the full-length (Ser(313)-Ile(599)) and truncated LBD (Ser(313)-Ala(573)), both comprising the extra 14 N-terminal amino acids and covalently bound [(14)C]17BAPE(2) (via HBr elimination). A purified (14)C-labeled LBD preparation was trypsinized to identify the covalent attachment sites of 17BAPE(2). HPLC of tryptic fragments only revealed two discrete and practically equivalent radioactive fractions. MALDI-TOF MS analysis of these two fractions showed only two signals which exactly matched the molecular masses of the [(14)C]17BAPE(2)-alkylated Cys(534)Lys(535) and Cys(421)-Arg(438) peptides, respectively. Hydrolysis of the second (14)C-labeled fraction by Staphylococcus aureus V8 Glu-C endoproteinase generated signals typical of alkylated the Cys(421)-Glu(423) tripeptide. We concluded that Cys421 and Cys534 were equivalent alternative covalent attachment sites of 17BAPE(2) on the LBD. These biochemical data were interpreted using the crystallographic structures of estradiol-LBD and raloxifene- or 4-hydroxytamoxifen-LBD complexes. The covalent attachment to Cys421, Cys534, or both could be interpreted according to the starting structure. Various hypotheses based on the biochemical results and molecular modeling simulations are discussed, with the likely involvement of dynamic interconversion between multiple conformational states of the LBD-17BAPE(2) complex.     

Identification of isoflavone glycosides in Pueraria lobata cultures by tandem mass spectrometry

Isoflavones in the methanolic extracts of kudzu (Pueraria lobata) callus, suspension and root cultures were compared in order to develop an experimental system in which puerarin (daidzein 8-C-glucoside) and other isoflavones could be synthesised in vitro. Quantitative variation of puerarin and other known isoflavones was estimated in kudzu culture extracts using HPLC-UV. The highest and lowest amounts of puerarin (14.56 and 0.33 mg/g) were present in in vitro root cultures and leaf tissue-derived callus cultures, respectively. A total of 48 isoflavone metabolites were detected in extracts of kudzu root cultures by HPLC-MS/MS, and the structures of 33 of them were tentatively assigned. Amongst these, 12 isoflavone C-glycosides were identified. Hydroxyderivatives of puerarin in several isomeric forms were detected, some of which have not been previously reported in kudzu root. The molecular weights, interpretation of characteristic fragment ions obtained from HPLC-MS/MS and comparison with reported data allowed the putative identification of the isoflavone metabolites.