Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry-based method for discrimination between molecular types of Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii

J Clin Microbiol. 2012 Jul;50(7):2472-6. doi: 10.1128/JCM.00737-12. Epub 2012 May 9.

Abstract

We evaluated the usefulness of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) for Cryptococcus identification at the species and subspecies levels by using an in-house database of 25 reference cryptococcal spectra. Eighty-one out of the 82 Cryptococcus isolates (72 Cryptococcus neoformans and 10 Cryptococcus gattii) tested were correctly identified with respect to their molecular type designations. We showed that MALDI-TOF MS is a practicable alternative to conventional mycology or DNA-based methods.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cryptococcosis / diagnosis
  • Cryptococcosis / microbiology
  • Cryptococcus gattii / chemistry*
  • Cryptococcus gattii / classification*
  • Cryptococcus neoformans / chemistry*
  • Cryptococcus neoformans / classification*
  • Humans
  • Microbiological Techniques / methods*
  • Mycology / methods*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / methods*
  • Time Factors