The aim of this study was to analyse individual polar lipid analogues, within each lipid family present, of fusobacteria using fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry (FAB-MS). Polar lipid extracts were prepared, washed and dried. Samples, dispersed in a matrix of m-nitrobenzyl alcohol, were analysed by negative ion FAB-MS using xenon as the reagent gas. Major anion peaks observed in the low mass region of mass/charge (m/z), 211, 221, 225, 227, 239, 241, 249, 251, 253, 255, 273, 277, 279, 281, 289 and 291, were consistent with the presence of C13:1, C14:3, C14:1, C14:0, C15:1, C15:0, C16:3, C16:2, C16:1, C16:0, unknown, C18:3, C18:2, C18:1, unknown and C19:3 carboxylate anions. In the high mass region, major anion peaks observed with m/z 644, 646, 648, 660, 662, 672, 673, 674, 686, 688, 689, 690, 698, 700, 701, 703, 714, 716, 717 and 719 were consistent with the presence of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) (29:2), PE (29:1), PE (29:0), PE (30:1), PE (30:0), PE (31:2), first isotope of PE (31:2), PE (31:1), PE (32:2), PE (32:1), first isotope peak of PE (32:1), PE (30:0), PE (33:3), PE (33:2), phosphatidylglycerol (PG) (31:3), PG (31:2), PE (34:2), PE (34:1), PG (32:2) and PG (32:1). We conclude that FAB-MS can provide data on individual analogues of PE and PG from Fusobacterium spp. not readily obtained by other means. Furthermore, the phospholipid profile is diagnostic for the genus.
