Identification of Leishmania at the species level with matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry. (25th October 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cassagne, C.; Pratlong, F.; Jeddi, F.; Benikhlef, R.; Aoun, K.; Normand, A.‐C.; Faraut, F.; Bastien, P.; Piarroux, R.; Bottieau, E.
• Is Part Of: Clinical microbiology and infection. Volume 20:Number 6(2014:Jun.)
• Page Start: 551
• Page End: 557
• Publication Date: 2013-10-25
• Subjects: Medical microbiology -- Periodicals; Diagnostic microbiology -- Periodicals; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Infection -- Periodicals; 616.01
• DOI: 10.1111/1469-0691.12387
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1198-743X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="clm12387-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization time‐of‐flightMALDI‐TOF mass spectrometry (MS) is now widely recognized as a powerful tool with which to identify bacteria and fungi at the species level, and sometimes in a rapid and accurate manner. We report herein an approach to identify, at the species level, <italic>Leishmania</italic> promastigotes from <italic>in vitro</italic> culture. We first constructed a reference database of spectra including the main <italic>Leishmania</italic> species known to cause human leishmaniasis. Then, the performance of the reference database in identifying <italic>Leishmania</italic> promastigotes was tested on a panel of 69 isolates obtained from patients. Our approach correctly identified 66 of the 69 isolates tested at the species level with log (score) values superior to 2. Two <italic>Leishmania</italic> isolates yielded non‐interpretable MALDI‐TOF MS patterns, owing to low log (score) values. Only one <italic>Leishmania</italic> isolate of <italic>Leishmania peruviana</italic> was misidentified as the closely related species <italic>Leishmania braziliensis</italic>, with a log (score) of 2.399. MALDI‐TOF MS is a promising approach, providing rapid and accurate identification of <italic>Leishmania</italic> from <italic>in vitro</italic> culture at the species level.</p> </abstract>