Identification of Enterobacteriaceae bacteria by direct matrix-assisted laser desorptiom/ionization mass spectrometric analysis of whole cells.

Several members of Enterobacteriaceas were analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOFMS). Characteristic mass spectral peaks and patterns were observed in the mass range of 2 to 20 kDa. The mass peaks reported to be reproducibly observed by previous researchers, which were claimed to serve as species/strain-specific biomarkers, are consistently observed in our current study. Despite the high degree of similarity found in the MALDI mass spectra within the enteric bacteria, minor yet notable differences existed to allow their differentiation. Five spectral peaks at m/z 4364, 5380, 6384, 6856, and 9540, generated reproducibly for each genus studied here, are assigned as family-specific biomarkers for the Family Enterobacteriaceae. The mass peaks at m/z 7324, 7724, 9136, and 9253 are assigned as genus-specific biomarkers for Salmonella. Some unique biomarkers characterizing the species and strains of E. coli are also presented. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.