Automating data acquisition affects mass spectrum quality and reproducibility during bacterial profiling using an intact cell sample preparation method with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

摘要: The use of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOF MS) has emerged as a promising tool to rapidly profile bacteria at the genus and species level and, more recently, sub-species (strain) level. Recently, it been proposed that approach can be enhanced with regard reproducibility throughput by automating spectrum acquisition; however, effects acquisition on quality have not investigated. Using an intact cell-based sample preparation method, we directly compared spectra acquired in fully automated fashion those manually two operators different levels experience. While automation tended increase base peak resolution, other measures quality, including signal-to-noise (S:N) ratio, data richness, were reduced. Negative performance this bacterial profiling may particularly important during closely related strains yield very similar spectra. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.