The Use of Mass Spectrometric Analysis for the Detection of Bacterial Toxins

Abstract

Toxins - molecular weight compounds produced by microorganisms, animals, plants and possessing antigene properties. Recently due to the perceived threat of terrorist actions identification of a number of bacterial toxins is especially important. A new approach in the identification of toxins associated with the development of mass spectrometry and can be successfully used for analysis of most environmental toxins. The method of MALDI-MS allows the detection of toxins such as Shiga-toxin Escherichia coli, delta-toxin of Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus particular, botulinum neurotoxin, cholera toxin. Analytical and diagnostic characteristics of the method, the simplicity and speed studies indicate the long term implementation of a method in the practice of laboratory diagnostics in determining toxinproducing of the studied microorganisms.