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1 May 2003 Analysis of Four Human Microsporidian Isolates by MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry
HERCULES MOURA, MARIA OSPINA, ADRIAN R. WOOLFITT, JOHN R. BARR, GOVINDA S. VISVESVARA
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Abstract

Spores of four species of microsporidia isolated from humans were analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and specific biomarkers were found for each. The microsporidia analyzed included three species, Encephalitozoon cuniculi, Encephalitozoon hellem, and Encephalitozoon intestinalis and the fourth organism is the recently described Brachiola algerae. Whole spores, spore shells, and soluble fractions were applied directly to the MALDI target without further purification steps. MALDI-TOF MS analysis of both whole spores and soluble fractions of the four isolates revealed a group of unique, characteristic, and reproducible spectral markers in the mass range of 2,000–8,000 Da. Statistical analysis of the averaged centroided masses uncovered two distinct sets of unique peptides or biomarkers, one originated from whole spores and the other from soluble fractions, that can differentiate the four microsporidian species studied. MALDI-TOF MS analysis of whole organisms is a rapid, sensitive, and specific option to characterize microsporidian isolates and has the potential for several applications in parasitology.

HERCULES MOURA, MARIA OSPINA, ADRIAN R. WOOLFITT, JOHN R. BARR, and GOVINDA S. VISVESVARA "Analysis of Four Human Microsporidian Isolates by MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry," The Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology 50(3), 156-163, (1 May 2003). https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1550-7408.2003.tb00110.x
Received: 6 August 2002; Accepted: 28 January 2003; Published: 1 May 2003
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KEYWORDS
biomarkers
Brachiola
Encephalitoozoon
opportunistic infections
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