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Abstract

In recent years, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry has become an important bioanalytical method to detect profiles of proteins and peptides derived from whole bacterial cells. This accurate molecular-phenotypic method can be easily applied to robustly detect bacteria on the genus, species and in some cases on the subspecies level. Standardised laboratory protocols for the preparation of abundant bacterial proteins and the development of tailored data analysis software, as well as high-quality databases of microbial reference mass spectra, made the procedure attractive to replace phenotypic or biochemical procedures for identification of bacteria and other microorganisms. Moreover, genotypic and functional mass spectrometry based methods to detect for example bacterial strains or antibiotic resistance may become useful in the coming years. In general, mass spectrometry is a powerful tool to facilitate routine microbial diagnostics.