Discrimination of Penicillium Isolates by MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry Fingerprinting

Details

• Personal Author:
  Beezhold, Donald H. ; Buskirk AD ; Green, Brett J. ; Hettick JM ; Janotka E ; Kashon ML ; Schmechel D ; Slaven, James E.
• Description:
  Novel Aspect: Improved fungal sample preparation allows MALDI-TOF MS fingerprinting with high accuracy. Introduction: Fungi are a diverse kingdom consisting of approximately 1.5 million species. The taxonomy of fungi is primarily based on time consuming and subjective identification of morphological colony features or by phylogenetic analysis. Fingerprinting techniques based on matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOF MS) have been demonstrated to be a powerful tool for the analysis of microorganisms such as bacteria, however, relatively few studies have focused on fungi. Fungi of the genus Penicillium have been shown to produce infection, particularly in immunocompromised hosts. In this study, we investigate thirteen species of this medically-relevant genus. Methods: Thirteen fungal isolates (ATCC) were sub-cultured from stock sources and grown 14 days on malt extract agar. Conidia and hyphae of individual fungi were isolated from the surface of one plate and then transferred to a 2.0 ml microcentrifuge tube. 100 microL of 0.1 mm zirconium beads and 1 mL 50/50 acetonitrile/4% trifluoroacetic acid were added to each tube and the samples subjected to three one minute bead beating cycles. The resultant solution was centrifuged at 14,500 rpm for 10 minutes and the supernatant taken for MALDI-TOF analysis. Samples were mixed 1:1 with 10 mg/mL alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (CHCA), and a 1 microL aliquot was spotted on a gold target plate and allowed to air dry. Preliminary Results: Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) was used to generate highly reproducible mass spectral "fingerprints" for thirteen species of fungi of the genus Penicillium. Prior to MALDI-TOF MS analysis, the fungi were subjected to three one-minute bead beating cycles in an acetonitrile/trifluoroacetic acid solvent. Although early attempts at MALDI-TOF MS fingerprinting of fungi were plagued by poor spectra containing few peaks, the mass spectra of bead-disrupted fungi contain abundant peaks in the range of 5-20 kDa, and may be used to unambiguously discriminate between species. In addition, a potential genus-specific biomarker for Penicillium is observed at m/z 13.9 kDa. To ensure reproducibility, each fungal species was independently cultured eight times, and the MALDI-TOF MS spectrum from each independent culture was added to the database. The fungal isolates can be correctly identified at the species level with 100% accuracy using canonical discriminant analysis with stepwise variable selection. Both resubstitution and cross-validation error estimates result in 0% error for the dataset of 104 fungal fingerprint mass spectra. Although the fungal fingerprint mass spectra produced by the described methodology are highly reproducible, spectra of Penicillium species differ from others in the published literature, reiterating the importance of highly controlled culture, sample preparation, and mass spectrometry conditions for mass spectrometry-based chemotaxonomy of microbiological samples. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Biomarkers Clinical Laboratory Techniques Fungi Mass Spectrometry Microbiology Occupational Health Safety Spectrum Analysis
• Keywords:
  Analytical-processes Clinical-chemistry Clinical-tests Mass-spectrometry Microbial-test-systems Microorganisms Microscopic-analysis Spectrographic-analysis Spectroscopes
• ISSN:
  1044-0305
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Abstract or Summary
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  HELD - Health Effects Laboratory Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  19
• Issue:
  5
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20035364
• Citation:
  J Am Soc Mass Spectrom 2008 May; 19(5S):S67
• Contact Point Address:
  Justin M. Hettick, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Health Effects Laboratory Division, ACIB, MS L-2040, 1095 Willowdale Road, Morgantown, WV 26505-2888
• Email:
  jhettick@cdc.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2008
• NORA Priority Area:
  Healthcare and Social Assistance ; Services
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry
• Supplement:
  S
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:b423d260c025e1302c06272f1e8d83a36439117a7b4898180be2a2a9c0b0fd6b5c77b23853acaf13b4a8efe56674d4e8597ff0fb89af9317a78d7640aedeccda
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/187250/cdc_187250_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 298.33 KB ]