No abstract

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS)-based microbial identification is a popular analytical method. Strain Solution proteotyping software available for MALDI-TOF MS has great potential for the precise and detailed discrimination of microorganisms at serotype- or strain-level, beyond the conventional mass fingerprinting approaches. Here, we constructed a theoretically calculated mass database of Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica consisting of 12 biomarker proteins: ribosomal proteins S8, L15, L17, L21, L25, and S7, Mn-cofactor-containing superoxide dismutase (SodA), peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase C (PPIase C), and protein Gns, and uncharacterized proteins YibT, YaiA, and YciF, that can allow serotyping of Salmonella. Strain Solution ver. 2 software with the novel database constructed in this study demonstrated that 109 strains (94%), including the major outbreak-associated serotypes, Enteritidis, Typhimurium, and Infantis, could be correctly identified from others by colony-directed MALDI-TOF MS using 116 strains belonging to 23 kinds of typed and untyped serotypes of S. enterica from culture collections, patients, and foods. We conclude that Strain Solution ver. 2 software integrated with the accurate mass database will be useful for the bacterial proteotyping by MALDI-TOF MS-based microbial classification in the clinical and food safety fields.

The rapid identification and classification of pathogenic microorganisms, including Salmonella enterica, is important for the surveillance and prevention of foodborne diseases. Matrix‐assisted laser desorption\ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (MALDI‐TOFMS) has been shown to be an effective tool for the rapid identification of microorganisms. In a previous report, a mass database consisting of 12 biomarker proteins, S8, L15, L17, L21, L25, S7, superoxide dismutase (SodA), peptidylprolyl cis‐trans isomerase C, Gns, YibT, YaiA, and YciF, was introduced for the serotyping of S. enterica via MALDI‐MS (Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 2017, 101, 8557‐8569). However, the reproducibility of peak detection of biomarkers such as SodA at m\z 23 000 was poor. We report here an optimized MALDI‐MS method for detecting these biomarkers with high sensitivity and reproducibility. The issue was solved by controlling the bacterial concentration at 1 × 10 to 1 × 102 MFU (3 × 106 to 3 × 107 CFU\μL, as calculated from the MFU), using the colony suspension supernatant obtained by centrifugation, and using matrix additives such as methylenediphosphonic acid and N‐decyl‐β‐D‐maltopyranoside. We propose that the method including the above steps is one of the best for detecting biomarkers with high sensitivity and reproducibility.

Identification of microorganisms by MALDI-TOF MS has become a popular method in the past 20 years. Strain Solution ver. 2 software appended with MALDI-TOF MS enables accurate discrimination of serotypes and strains beyond the genus and species level by creating a theoretical mass-based database. In this study, we constructed a theoretical mass database with the validated biomarkers to proteotype Campylobacter jejuni. Using 10 strains belonging to Campylobacter spp. available from culture collections and 41 Campylobacter jejuni strains isolated from humans and foods, the ribosomal protein subunits L36, L32, S14, L24, L23, L7/L12, and S11 could be selected as the effective biomarkers for the proteotyping of C. jejuni at MALDI-TOF MS. An accurate database of their theoretical mass-based values was constructed by matching these gene DNA sequences and the observed mass peaks. We attempted to automatically classify 41 strains isolated from nature using this database and Strain Solution ver. 2 software, and 38 strains (93%) were correctly classified into the intended group based on the theoretical mass-based values. Thus, the seven biomarkers found in this study and Strain Solution ver. 2 are promising for the proteotyping of C. jejuni by MALDI-TOF MS.

Cereulide-producing Bacillus cereus , which causes foodborne illnesses with vomiting, and psychrotolerant Bacillus cereus group strains such as Bacillus mycoides , which can grow at ≥7°C and cause spoilage of refrigerated foods, are significant concerns for the food industry. As such, rapid and simple methods to discriminate cereulide-producing B. cereus and psychrotolerant B. cereus group strains from other B. cereus group strains are needed. Here we developed a novel, rapid, and simple method by MALDI-TOF MS analysis for simultaneous discrimination of cereulide-producing B. cereus and psychrotolerant B. cereus group strains from other B. cereus group strains. A potassium adduct of cereulide was used to detect cereulide-producing B. cereus , and three ribosomal subunit proteins (L30, S16, S20) were used to detect psychrotolerant B. cereus group. A total of 51 B. cereus group strains were analyzed by MALDI-TOF MS. The biomarkers allowed successful discrimination of 16 cereulide-producing B. cereus and 15 psychrotolerant B. cereus group strains from other B. cereus group strains. The results showed that this MALDI-TOF MS analysis allows simultaneous discrimination of cereulide-producing B. cereus and psychrotolerant B. cereus group strains from other B. cereus group strains. This efficient method demonstrates the potential to be a valuable tool for ensuring food safety.