Abstract
Matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight (MALDI-TOF) is a powerful analytical tool that has revolutionized microbial identification. Routinely used for bacterial identification, MALDI-TOF has recently been applied to both yeast and filamentous fungi, confirming its pivotal role in the rapid and reliable diagnosis of infections. Subspecies-level identification holds an important role in epidemiological investigations aimed at tracing virulent or drug resistant clones. This review focuses on present and future applications of this versatile tool in the clinical mycology laboratory.
Highlights
A rapid and accurate species identification is mandatory for the successful management of fungal infections, the incidence of which has risen over the two past decades
Subspecies-level identification holds an important role in epidemiological investigations aimed at tracing virulent or drug resistant clones, and it is usually achieved by DNA-based methods such as multi-locus sequence typing (MLST), microsatellite genotyping, amplification fragment length polymorphism (AFLP), DNA microsatellite typing, or pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) [20,21,22,23,24,25]
Routine identification is performed by positioning a small quantity of fungal cells on a target plate, which are overlaid with a matrix containing a solution of α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (CHCA) in a mixture of organic solvents
Summary
A rapid and accurate species identification is mandatory for the successful management of fungal infections, the incidence of which has risen over the two past decades. Subspecies-level identification holds an important role in epidemiological investigations aimed at tracing virulent or drug resistant clones, and it is usually achieved by DNA-based methods such as multi-locus sequence typing (MLST), microsatellite genotyping, amplification fragment length polymorphism (AFLP), DNA microsatellite typing, or pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) [20,21,22,23,24,25]. These techniques offer very high accuracy and discriminative power; they are impractical to perform on a routine basis due to their high costs and time-consuming procedures. The purpose of this review is to put together data available for MALDI-TOF in fungal identification and typing, focusing on present and future applications of this versatile tool in the clinical mycology laboratory
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