Matrix-assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) Can Precisely Discriminate the Lineages of Listeria monocytogenes and Species of Listeria

Teruyo Ojima-Kato; Naomi Yamamoto; Hajime Takahashi; Hiroto Tamura

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0159730

Matrix-assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) Can Precisely Discriminate the Lineages of Listeria monocytogenes and Species of Listeria

PLoS One. 2016 Jul 21;11(7):e0159730. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0159730. eCollection 2016.

Authors

Teruyo Ojima-Kato^{1

2}, Naomi Yamamoto², Hajime Takahashi³, Hiroto Tamura^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Knowledge Hub Aichi, Aichi Science and Technology Foundation, Yakusa, Toyota, Aichi 470-0356, Japan.
² School of Agriculture, Meijo University, Shiogamaguchi, Tenpaku-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 468-0073, Japan.
³ Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Marine Science, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, 4-5-7, Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 108-8477 Japan.

Abstract

The genetic lineages of Listeria monocytogenes and other species of the genus Listeria are correlated with pathogenesis in humans. Although matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) has become a prevailing tool for rapid and reliable microbial identification, the precise discrimination of Listeria species and lineages remains a crucial issue in clinical settings and for food safety. In this study, we constructed an accurate and reliable MS database to discriminate the lineages of L. monocytogenes and the species of Listeria (L. monocytogenes, L. innocua, L. welshimeri, L. seeligeri, L. ivanovii, L. grayi, and L. rocourtiae) based on the S10-spc-alpha operon gene encoded ribosomal protein mass spectrum (S10-GERMS) proteotyping method, which relies on both genetic information (genomics) and observed MS peaks in MALDI-TOF MS (proteomics). The specific set of eight biomarkers (ribosomal proteins L24, L6, L18, L15, S11, S9, L31 type B, and S16) yielded characteristic MS patterns for the lineages of L. monocytogenes and the different species of Listeria, and led to the construction of a MS database that was successful in discriminating between these organisms in MALDI-TOF MS fingerprinting analysis followed by advanced proteotyping software Strain Solution analysis. We also confirmed the constructed database on the proteotyping software Strain Solution by using 23 Listeria strains collected from natural sources.

MeSH terms

Computational Biology / methods
DNA Fingerprinting / methods
Databases, Genetic
Listeria / classification*
Listeria / genetics
Listeria monocytogenes / classification*
Listeria monocytogenes / genetics
Software
Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization* / methods

Grants and funding

This work was financially supported by the Aichi Science and Technology Foundation (Japan) as a part of the “Technological Development Project for Food Safety and Security” under Knowledge Hub Aichi (http://www.astf.or.jp/). HT received the funding. The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.