The use of MALDI­-TOF mass­spectrometry for the identification of fungal pathogens

Abstract

Here we review modern data on the advantages and disadvantages of identifying mycoses pathogens using the MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry method. The advantages of this method are the high accuracy of the results obtained, the simplicity of the analysis, and the ability to determine the indicators of sensitivity to antifungal drugs. Limitations in using the method are associated with the lack of reference mass spectra of many micromycetes in the databases and standardized protocols for preparing micromycete cultures for MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Additional difficulties arise in the identification of pathogens of especially dangerous mycoses due to the limited representation of reference mass spectra in databases. When developing unified protocols for sample preparation, it is also necessary to take into account the growth phase of dimorphic micromycetes.