LAP-MALI mass spectrometry enables rapid multiplex AMR profiling and bacterial identification
Investigators developed a liquid atmospheric pressure MALDI mass spectrometry assay that profiles antimicrobial resistance and identifies bacterial species from less than 5 µL of culture in under three hours using a beta-lactam antibiotic panel. The method accurately classified isolates carrying common resistance genes such as OXA-48, KPC-3, and VIM-1, while simultaneously achieving up to 100% species-level identification through lipid and protein profiling. Tandem MS sequencing of multiply charged protein ions further enhances the platform's diagnostic resolution. The study reports that this multiplex approach offers a faster, less probability-dependent alternative to conventional MALDI biotyping for clinical microbiology laboratories and antimicrobial stewardship programs.
The original study
Rapid Multiplex Antimicrobial Resistance Profiling and Bacterial Identification by LAP-MALDI Mass Spectrometry Biotyping.
- Authors
- Adair LR, Iyer S, Jones IM, Cramer R
- Journal
- Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)
- Type
- Journal Article
- PMID
- 42536802
Original abstract
Rapid and accurate characterization of antimicrobial resistance is essential for effective patient treatment and outcomes. Infection-causing microorganisms often harbour multi-drug resistance, requiring multiple tests for identification. Here, we present a multiplex functional assay using liquid atmospheric pressure (LAP) matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) as next-generation MALDI biotyping technology, which can accurately determine antibiotic resistance/susceptibility within three hours from <5 µL of bacterial culture, employing a beta-lactam antibiotic panel. Strains with common resistance genes, including OXA-48, KPC-3, and VIM-1, as well as susceptible isolates, are easily and reliably classified. Concurrent with multi-drug testing, the same bacterial sample provides species-identifying lipid and protein profiles (up to 100% classification accuracy) and characterization through tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) protein sequencing, facilitated by LAP-MALDI's ability to generate multiply charged protein ions. Detection of multiple antibiotics, their degradation products and lipids/proteins with high mass accuracy, along with the possibility of protein sequencing, offers new diagnostic possibilities for clinical microbiology and antimicrobial stewardship that are less probability-based than conventional MALDI biotyping.