Title
Detection and identification of bio-threats using MALDI-TOF-MS
Author
Paauw, A.
Publication year
2012
Abstract
MALDI-TOF-MS emerged as a new diagnostic tool in established clinical laboratories. Advantages compared to conventional techniques are that it is a fast, cost-effective, accurate method, which is suitable for high-throughput identification of bacteria by less skilled laboratory personnel because preliminary identification steps are unnecessary. We studied whether MALDI-TOF-MS can add a value for the current laboratory detection and identification capabilities of bio-threat agents. Consequently, we showed that by using MALDI-TOF-MS, Brucella species can be identified swiftly, while by use of common diagnostic methods this was a laborious and time consuming process. Subsequently, we showed that known genetic relationships between species can help to develop reference libraries for MALDI-TOF-MS. This knowledge helps us to create MALDI-TOF-MS applications for the identification of bio-threat agents. Because these agents are often closely related to less or non-pathogenic species such as. Y. pestis with Y. pseudotuberculosis or B. anthracis with B. thuringiensis. Finally, we showed that MALDITOF-MS potentially can be used for direct screening of e.g. threat letters containing suspicious powders. What is more, MALDI-TOF-MS applications can improve current detection and identification capabilities for bio-threats.
Subject
MALDI-TOF-MS
Bio-threat
Bacillus anthracis
Brucella
Identification
Detection
Safety and Security
Defence, Safety and Security
Life
CBRN - CBRN Protection
EELS - Earth, Environmental and Life
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http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:84452b46-90be-4e00-88ba-94f1bd1c30f7
TNO identifier
460875
Source
NBC 2012 - 20th Anniversary. 8th Symposium on CBRNE Threats. How does society cope? Turku, Finland, 11-14 June 2012, 56-59 (Session IV)
Document type
conference paper