Abstract
Pyrolysis of microorganisms yields complex mixtures of products that can be analyzed quantitatively by mass spectrometry (MS). The resulting mass spectra represent transient bacterial “fingerprints” that can be compared mathematically for relatedness. The method has potential for identification, classification, and typing of bacteria with a high degree of resolution and speed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Aries, R. E., Gutteridge, C. S., and Ottley, T. W. (1986) Evaluation of a low-cost, automated pyrolysis mass spectrometer. J. Anal. Appl. Pyrolysis 9, 81–98.
Magee, J. T., Hindmarsh, J. M., Burnett, I. A., and Pease, A. (1989) Epidemiological typing of Streptococcus pyogenes by pyrolysis mass spectrometry. J. Med. Microbiol. 30, 213–278.
Freeman, R., Goodfellow, M., Gould, F. K., Hudson, S. J., and Lightfoot, N. F. (1990) Pyrolysis mass spectrometry for the rapid epidemiological typing of clinically significant bacterial pathogens. J. Med. Microbiol. 32, 283–286.
Sisson, P. R., Freeman, R., Lightfoot, N. F., and Richardson, I. R. (1991) Incrimination of an environmental source of a case of legionnaires’ disease by pyrolysis mass spectrometry. Epidemiol. Infect. 107, 127–132.
Sisson, P. R., Freeman, R., Magee, J. G., and Lightfoot, N. F. (1991) Differentiation between mycobacteria of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex by pyrolysis mass spectrometry. Tubercle 72, 206–209.
Gould, F. K., Freeman, R., Sisson, P. R., Cookson, B. D., and Lightfoot, N. F. (1991), Inter-strain comparison by pyrolysis mass spectrometry in the investigation of Staphylococcus aureus nosocomial infections. J. Hosp. Infect. 19, 41–48.
Kelley, T. and Berkeley, R. C. W. (1992) The use of algorithmic correction to pyrolysis mass spectrometric data in the identification of bacteria by library matching. Abstr. 121st Ord. Meeting Soc. Gen. Microbiol., 78.
Sisson, P. R., Kramer, J. M., Brett, M. M., Freeman, R., Gilbert, R. J., and Lightfoot, N. F. (1992) Application of pyrolysis mass spectrometry to the investigation of food-poisoning and non-gastrointestinal infection associated with Bacillus species and Clostridium perfringens. Int. J. Food Microbiol. 17, 57–66.
Sisson, P. R., Freeman, R., Magee, J. G., and Lightfoot, N. F. (1992) Rapid differentiation of Mycobacterium xenopi from mycobacteria of the Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex by pyrolysis mass spectrometry. J. Clin. Pathol. 45, 355–357.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1995 Humana Press Inc.
About this protocol
Cite this protocol
Freeman, R., Sisson, P.R., Heatherington, C.S. (1995). Pyrolysis Mass Spectrometry. In: Howard, J., Whitcombe, D.M. (eds) Diagnostic Bacteriology Protocols. Methods in Molecular Biology™, vol 46. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1385/0-89603-297-3:97
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/0-89603-297-3:97
Publisher Name: Humana Press
Print ISBN: 978-0-89603-297-2
Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-533-4
eBook Packages: Springer Protocols