Detection and identification of bio-threats using MALDI-TOF-MS

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