Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry as a tool for rapid diagnosis of potentially toxigenic Corynebacterium species in the laboratory management of diphtheria-associated bacteria

Euro Surveill. 2010 Oct 28;15(43):19699. doi: 10.2807/ese.15.43.19699-en.

Abstract

The rapid identification of the potentially toxigenic Corynebacterium species, C. diphtheriae, C. ulcerans and C. pseudotuberculosis is essential for diagnosis and treatment of diphtheria and diphtheria-like diseases. We used matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDIT-OF MS) in comparison with classical microbiological and molecular methods on 116 Corynebacterium strains. All 90 potentially toxigenic Corynebacterium strains collected by the German National Consiliary Laboratory on Diphtheria in a period of more than ten years were correctly identified by MALDI-TOF MS. We propose an algorithm for fast and reliable diagnosis of diphtheria incorporating MALDI-TOF MS, real-time tox PCR and Elek testing.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Bacteriological Techniques / methods*
  • Corynebacterium / chemistry
  • Corynebacterium / classification
  • Corynebacterium / isolation & purification*
  • Diphtheria / diagnosis*
  • Diphtheria / microbiology
  • Diphtheria Toxin / analysis*
  • Germany
  • Humans
  • Laboratories
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / methods*

Substances

  • Diphtheria Toxin