Discrimination of Some Gram-negative Bacteria by Direct Probe Mass Spectrometry

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Abstract
The technique of direct probe mass spectrometry is described together with its application to the analysis of 50 strains of gram-negative bacteria representing 7 genera. Of these strains, 36 were analyzed in duplicate and the 72 spectra held in a computer library. The intensities of 63 ions from each of the spectra were analyzed by discriminant analysis techniques, and all 7 groups could be distinguished by as few as 6 ions. A set of 29 strains, 15 of which were already in the data base, were used as unknowns to challenge the library on 2 separate occasions. The success rate of these challenges was 97 and 90% using the full spectra, but only 72 and 62% using the selection of 6 ions. Possible explanations for this are discussed as well as the scope and limitation of the method as a means of characterizing microorganisms.

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