Diagnostic performance of an automated robot for MALDI target preparation in microbial identification.

The MBT Pathfinder is an automated colony-picking robot designed for efficient sample preparation in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. This article presents results from three key experiments evaluating the instrument's performance in conjunction with MALDI Biotyper instrument. The method comparison experiment assessed its clinical performance, demonstrating comparable results with gram-positive, gram-negative, and anaerobic bacteria (scores larger than 2.

Explanted Skull Flaps after Decompressive Hemicraniectomy Demonstrate Relevant Bone Avitality-Is Their Reimplantation Worth the Risk?

Background: Reimplantations of autologous skull flaps after decompressive hemicraniectomies (DHs) are associated with high rates of postoperative bone flap resorption (BFR). We histologically assessed the cell viability of explanted bone flaps in certain periods of time after DH, in order to conclude whether precursors of BRF may be developed during their storage.

Methods: Skull bone flaps explanted during a DH between 2019 and 2020 were stored in a freezer at either -23 °C or -80 °C.

Machine learning-based typing of Salmonella enterica O-serogroups by the Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy-based IR Biotyper system.

Background: Salmonella enterica is among the major burdens for public health at global level. Typing of salmonellae below the species level is fundamental for different purposes, but traditional methods are expensive, technically demanding, and time-consuming, and therefore limited to reference centers. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy is an alternative method for bacterial typing, successfully applied for classification at different infra-species levels.

Identification of micro-organism from positive blood cultures: comparison of three different short culturing methods to the Rapid Sepsityper workflow.

Sepsis is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. The rapid identification (ID) of the causative micro-organisms is crucial for the patients' clinical outcome. MALDI-TOF MS has been widely investigated to speed up the time-to-report for ID from positive blood cultures, and many different procedures and protocols were developed, all of them attributable either to the direct separation of microbial cells from the blood cells, or to a short subculture approach.

Effective high-throughput RT-qPCR screening for SARS-CoV-2 infections in children.

Systematic SARS-CoV-2 testing is a valuable tool for infection control and surveillance. However, broad application of high sensitive RT-qPCR testing in children is often hampered due to unpleasant sample collection, limited RT-qPCR capacities and high costs. Here, we developed a high-throughput approach ('Lolli-Method') for SARS-CoV-2 detection in children, combining non-invasive sample collection with an RT-qPCR-pool testing strategy.

Microbiological profile and infection potential of different cryopreserved skull flaps after decompressive hemicraniectomy. Is cryopreservation at - 80 ℃ better?

Objective: Patterns of cryopreservation of explanted skull bone flaps have long been a matter of debate, in particular the appropriate temperature of storage. To the best of our knowledge no study to date has compared the microbiological profile and the infection potential of skull bone flaps cryostored at the same institution at disparate degrees for neurosurgical purposes. In the context of our clinical trial DRKS00023283, we performed a bacterial culture of explanted skull bone flaps, which were cryopreserved lege artis at a temperature of either - 23 °C or - 80 °C after a decompressive hemicraniectomy.

Multicentre study on the reproducibility of MALDI-TOF MS for nontuberculous mycobacteria identification.

The ability of MALDI-TOF for the identification of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) has improved recently thanks to updated databases and optimized protein extraction procedures. Few multicentre studies on the reproducibility of MALDI-TOF have been performed so far, none on mycobacteria. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reproducibility of MALDI-TOF for the identification of NTM in 15 laboratories in 9 European countries.

Bloodstream Infections Caused by and : Epidemiological, Clinical, and Microbiological Features of Two Emerging Yeast Species.

Magnusiomyces clavatus and Magnusiomyces capitatus are emerging yeasts with intrinsic resistance to many commonly used antifungal agents. Identification is difficult, and determination of susceptibility patterns with commercial and reference methods is equally challenging. For this reason, few data on invasive infections by spp.

How MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry can aid the diagnosis of hard-to-identify pathogenic bacteria - the rare and the unknown.

: Ten years after its introduction into clinical microbiology, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry has become the standard routine identification tool for bacteria in most laboratories. The technology has accelerated analyses and improved the quality of results. The greatest significance has been observed for bacteria that were challenging to be identified by traditional methods.

MALDI-TOF bacterial subtyping to detect antibiotic resistance.

The spread of bacterial resistance has been continuously increasing in the recent decade. Multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacteria now represent one of the most worrisome public health issues, as they seriously complicate the treatment of infections, often leaving few therapeutic options. Enterobacteria and are among the most common bacterial pathogens, while is the most frequent anaerobic pathogen.

A Full MALDI-Based Approach to Detect Plasmid-Encoded KPC-Producing .

KPC-producing represents a severe public health concern worldwide. The rapid detection of these isolates is of fundamental importance for the adoption of proper antibiotic treatment and infection control measures, and new applications of MALDI-TOF MS technology fit this purpose. In this study, we present a full MALDI-based approach to detect plasmid-encoded KPC-producing strains, accomplished by the automated detection of a KPC-specific peak (at 11,109 m/z) by a specific algorithm integrated into the MALDI Biotyper system (Bruker Daltonik), and the confirmation of carbapenemase activity by STAR-Carba imipenem hydrolysis assay.

Bacteroides fragilis: A whole MALDI-based workflow from identification to confirmation of carbapenemase production for routine laboratories.

Bacteroides fragilis is a frequent anaerobic pathogen and can cause severe infections. Resistance to carbapenems, associated with the cfiA gene encoded carbapenemase, represents an emerging problem. To date, no rapid methods are available to detect and confirm this resistance mechanism in routine laboratories, and the missed recognition of carbapenemase-producing strains can lead to therapeutic failures.

How to: identify non-tuberculous Mycobacterium species using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry.

Background: The implementation of MALDI-TOF MS for microorganism identification has changed the routine of the microbiology laboratories as we knew it. Most microorganisms can now be reliably identified within minutes using this inexpensive, user-friendly methodology. However, its application in the identification of mycobacteria isolates has been hampered by the structure of their cell wall.

Accurate differentiation of Mycobacterium chimaera from Mycobacterium intracellulare by MALDI-TOF MS analysis.

Purpose: The increasing number of infections caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) has prompted the need for rapid and precise identification methods of these pathogens. Several studies report the applicability of MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry (MS) for identification of NTM. However, some closely related species have very similar spectral mass fingerprints, and until recently, Mycobacterium chimaera and M.

Identification of microorganisms grown on chromogenic media by MALDI-TOF MS.

Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and chromogenic media are widely used in clinical microbiology laboratories to facilitate the rapid selection and identification of pathogens. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether usage of chromogenic media limits the diagnostic performance of MALDI-TOF MS for microbial identification. A total of 386 microorganisms collected and analyzed at five laboratories were included.

[Rhinoorbitocerebral zygomycosis caused by Rhizopus microsporus in a roe deer (Capreolus capreolus)].

An one-year-old male roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) with abnormal behaviour was shot in order to exclude rabies virus infection. The 12.8 kg weighing animal was emaciated and revealed an asymmetric head with protruding left eye and expositional keratitis.

Description of the metallo-β-lactamase GIM-1 in Acinetobacter pittii.

Objectives: To characterize the mechanisms involved in the reduced carbapenem susceptibility of five Acinetobacter pittii strains isolated from different regions of Germany.

Methods: The strains were analysed by susceptibility testing, phenotypic tests for metallo-β-lactamase production, sequencing of the integron structure and strain typing by PFGE, as well as multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and plasmid analysis by S1 restriction and hybridization.

Results: Despite GIM-1 production, the MICs of imipenem were only 4 mg/L for four strains and some methods of phenotypic MBL detection failed.

Real time analysis of STAT3 nucleocytoplasmic shuttling.

The transcription factor STAT3 is most important for the signal transduction of interleukin-6 and related cytokines. Upon stimulation cytoplasmic STAT3 is phosphorylated at tyrosine 705, translocates into the nucleus, and induces target genes. Notably, STAT proteins are also detectable in the nuclei of unstimulated cells.

STAT3 is enriched in nuclear bodies.

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is a transcription factor that is involved in a variety of biological functions. It is essential for the signal transduction of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and related cytokines. In response to IL-6 stimulation STAT3 becomes phosphorylated and translocates into the nucleus where it binds to enhancer sequences of target genes.