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Multilaboratory Evaluation of the MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry System, MicroIDSys Elite, for the Identification of Medically Important Filamentous Fungi

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Abstract

With the increasing number of fungal infections and immunocompromised patients, rapid and accurate fungal identification is required in clinical microbiology laboratories. We evaluated the applicability of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) system, MicroIDSys Elite (ASTA Corp., South Korea) for the identification of medically important filamentous fungi. A total of 505 strains comprising 37 genera and 90 species collected from 11 Korean hospitals were sent to the microbiology laboratory of International St. Mary’s Hospital. All isolates were tested using MicroIDSys Elite, and data were analyzed using the MoldDB v.1.22 database (ASTA). Correct identification rates were compared with the multigene sequencing results. MicroIDSys Elite correctly identified 86.5% (437/505) and 88.9% (449/505) of all tested isolates at the species and genus level, respectively. About 98.2% of Aspergillus isolates were identified at the species level, including cryptic and rare species of A. calidoustus, A. tamarii, A. lentulus, A. versicolor and A. aculeatus. MicroIDSys Elite identified 75.0% of basidiomycetes, including Schizophyllum commune, and 84.3% of the dermatophytes. It also distinguished Sprothrix globosa at the species level. The mean scores of total isolates corresponding to correct species identification were significantly higher than those obtained for genus-level identification (253.5 ± 50.7 vs. 168.6 ± 30.3, P < 0.001). MicroIDSys Elite showed high accuracy for the identification of filamentous fungi, including cryptic and rare Aspergillus species. It is suitable for use in clinical laboratories as a rapid and efficient tool for clinical mold identification. Further evaluations are recommended for MicroIDSys Elite as a rapid and efficient tool for the identification of medically important filamentous fungi.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by a grant of the Korea Health Technology R&D Project through the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI), funded by the Ministry of Health & Welfare, Republic of Korea (Grant Number : H18C2318).

Funding

This research was supported by the Fungi Specialized Pathogen Resource Bank under National Culture Collection for Pathogens (NCCP) of the Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention (SPRB‐2017‐02).

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Author notes

  1. Gi-Ho Sung and Jayoung Kim have contributed equally to this work as corresponding authors.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Laboratory Medicine, International St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, Catholic Kwandong University, Incheon, Korea

    Hyeyoung Lee, Jehyun Koo, Min-Ha Lee, Hyun Ji Lee, Sung-Il Cho, Ji Seon Choi & Jayoung Kim

  2. Translational Research Division, Biomedical Institute of Mycological Resource, International St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, Catholic Kwandong University, Incheon, Korea

    Junsang Oh, Gi-Ho Sung & Jayoung Kim

  3. Department of Microbiology, International St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, Catholic Kwandong University, Gangneung, Korea

    Gi-Ho Sung

  4. Department of Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, Seoul, Korea

    Yeon-Joon Park

  5. Department of Laboratory Medicine, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea

    Jeong Hwan Shin

  6. Department of Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Uijeongbu St. Mary’s Hospital, Uijeongbu, Korea

    Hae Kyung Lee

  7. Department of Laboratory Medicine, College of MedicineThe Catholic University of KoreaSt. Vincent’s Hospital, Suwon, Korea

    Soo-Young Kim

  8. Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yeungnam University College of Medicine, Daegu, South Korea

    Chae Hoon Lee

  9. Department of Laboratory Medicine, Jeju National University School of Medicine, Jeju, Korea

    Young Ree Kim

  10. Seegene Medical Foundation, Seoul, Korea

    Yong-Hak Sohn

  11. Department of Laboratory Medicine, Cheju Halla General Hospital, Jeju, Korea

    Woo Jin Kim

  12. Department of Laboratory Medicine, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea

    Sook Won Ryu

  13. Department of Laboratory Medicine and Genetics, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

    Nam Yong Lee & Hee Jae Huh

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  1. Hyeyoung Lee
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Lee, H., Oh, J., Sung, GH. et al. Multilaboratory Evaluation of the MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry System, MicroIDSys Elite, for the Identification of Medically Important Filamentous Fungi. Mycopathologia 186, 15–26 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11046-020-00507-z

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