Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) Applications in Bacteriology: brazilian contributions

Abstract

Among its innumerous applications in Bacteriology, the Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) technique is evolving as a powerful tool for bacterial identification and antimicrobial resistance investigation. Publications have evaluated the MALDI-TOF MS performance in the identification of a series of bacterial pathogens, including the most common severe infectious agents, emergent pathogens involved with outbreaks of healthcare-associated infections, rare pathogens, and those whose isolation in culture media is difficult. As compared to conventional methods of bacterial identification, MALDI-TOF MS has proven to be a fast, accurate and cost-effective technique. Currently, MALDI-TOF MS has been used in antimicrobial resistance studies, since it has shown to be an efficient tool in detecting specific resistance mechanisms in bacteria, such as beta-lactamases production, for example. Here, we describe the advances in this growing field of mass spectrometry applied to Bacteriology, including Brazilian contributions.

Impact of alcohol gel on hand bacteria in healthcare professionals

“…MALDI-TOF has been recognized as a fast and reliable tool to identify bacteria, once mass spectra can be viewed as species-specific fingerprints, allowing for accurate identification of purified strains at the genus and species level. 12,13…”