We used matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) to characterize hydrophobic, alanine-rich mutants of the basic region/leucine zipper (bZIP) protein GCN4. These bacterially expressed proteins were generated to probe how small, alpha-helical proteins bind specific DNA sites. Enzymatic digestion mapping combined with MALDI-TOF MS characterization...

BACKGROUND/AIMS Species-level identification of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) is important in making decisions about the necessity and choice of antimicrobial treatment. The reason is predictable clinical significance and the susceptibility profile of specific NTM species. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) is recognized as a diagnost...

We previously introduced a vacuum deposition interface for matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI/TOF MS) on a moving surface (e.g., quartz wheel, Mylar tape, metal target). In our present work, the approach has been extended to demonstrate parallel analysis for multiple on-line infusion MALDI MS and capillary array electrophoresis (CAE)-MALDI MS. In...

Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) has gained popularity in recent years for rapid bacterial identification, mostly at the genus or species level. In this study, a rapid method to identify the Escherichia coli flagellar antigen (H antigen) at the subspecies level was developed using a MALDI-TOF MS platform with high specificity and sensit...

The use of the matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry (MS) generates rapid microbial identification. We are presenting a case of a 63-year-old woman with a medical history of chronic tracheostomy admitted for hypotension and fevers to illustrate the clinical implication of MALDI-TOF MS on bacterial identification. Kerstersia gyiorum was identifi...

We examined the utility of a single matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry method for the identification of security-sensitive biological agents (risk group 3 bacterial pathogens). The goal was 2-fold: to verify a method for inclusion into our scope of accreditation, and to assess the biological safety of extractions. We developed our sample flo...

cation of dermatophytes [3 – 5]. ITS sequencing is presently considered the gold standard for molecular identifi cation and phylogenetic analyses of dermatophytes. However, DNA sequencing is expensive and at least 2 – 3 days are required before a sequence is obtained from a culture. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-fl ight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) is now used routinel...

background: transforming growth factor-beta (tgf-β) activation appears to be crucial for tissue injury in diabetic nephropathy (dn). fibromodulin, the small leucine-rich proteoglycan, has been proposed to be the potent tgf-β modulator. in this study, the therapeutic effects of fibromodulin in the kidneys of streptozotocin (stz)-induced diabetic rats were investigated. methods: diabetic rats rec...

Accurate species identification of the Sporothrix schenckii complex is essential, since identification based only on phenotypic characteristics is often inconclusive due to phenotypic variability within the species. We used matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) for species identification of 70 environmental and clinical isolates of the Sporo...

Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) has recently emerged as a powerful tool for the routine identification of clinical isolates. MALDI-TOF MS based identification of bacteria has been shown to be more rapid, accurate and cost-efficient than conventional phenotypic techniques or molecular methods. Rapid and reliable identification of food-a...