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MALDI-TOF mass signatures for differentiation of yeast species, strain grouping and monitoring of morphogenesis markers

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Abstract

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) is demonstrated to be a potentially useful tool for the rapid identification of yeasts, the grouping of Candida albicans strains, and the monitoring of germ tube-specific markers. Co-crystallized with sinapinic acid as the MALDI matrix, intact yeast cells yielded a sufficient number of medium-sized ions (4–15 kDa) in MALDI mass spectra to provide “mass signatures” that were diagnostic of strain type. For most isolates, the mass signatures were affected by the growth medium, length of incubation and the cell preparation method. While the overall past success of this methodology for fungal cells has been relatively low compared to its application to bacteria, fixing the yeast cells in 50% methanol inactivated the cells, reduced cell aggregation in aqueous suspension solution, and more importantly, it significantly improved the mass signature quality. This simple but critical advance in sample treatment improved mass spectrometric signal-to-noise ratios and allowed the identification of yeasts by a mass signature approach. Under optimized conditions, Candida species (C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. krusei, C. kefyr), Aspergillus species (A. terreus, A. fumigatus, A. syndowii) and other yeast genera (Cryptococcus neoformans, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and a Rhodotorula sp.) could be distinguished. Within the C. albicans species, several common ions in the m/z 5,000–10,000 range were apparent in the mass spectra of all tested strains. In addition to shared ions, the mass spectra of individual C. albicans strains permitted grouping of the strains. Principal component analysis (PCA) was employed to confirm spectral reproducibility and C. albicans strain grouping by mass signatures. Finally, C. albicans germ tubes produced MALDI-TOF mass signatures that differed from yeast forms of this species. This is a rapid, sensitive and simple method for identifying yeasts, grouping strains and following the morphogenesis of C. albicans.

 

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Acknowledgement

The authors would like to thank Patrick Lambert and Dr. Miriam Corti for their help in yeast sample preparations. Support for the research was provided by the Research Institute for Children, Children’s Hospital, New Orleans, and the Louisiana Board of Regents through HEF (2001-06)-08.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Children’s Hospital, New Orleans—The Research Institute for Children, 200 Henry Clay Ave., New Orleans, LA, 70118, USA

    Jiang Qian, Jim E. Cutler & Yang Cai

  2. Department of Pediatrics and Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, LSU Health Science Center, New Orleans, 1901 Perdido Street, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA

    Jim E. Cutler

  3. Department of Chemistry, University of New Orleans, 2000 Lakeshore Dr., New Orleans, LA, 70148, USA

    Jiang Qian, Richard B. Cole & Yang Cai

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  1. Jiang Qian
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  2. Jim E. Cutler
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  4. Yang Cai
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Correspondence to Yang Cai.

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Qian, J., Cutler, J.E., Cole, R.B. et al. MALDI-TOF mass signatures for differentiation of yeast species, strain grouping and monitoring of morphogenesis markers. Anal Bioanal Chem 392, 439–449 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-008-2288-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-008-2288-1

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