Identification of filamentous fungi with MALDI-TOF: methods and perspectives (literature review)

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Abstract

This review addresses various attempts of adaptation of MALDI-TOF method for identification of filamentous fungi. This method has become a golden standard in laboratory diagnostics. Accuracy, simplicity, and low cost per analysis promote making it a widespread technology. However, attempts of applying it to filamentous fungi face many problems. Solid cell wall of fungi mycelium is an obstacle to cell lysis and protein ionization. Heterogeneity of cells in culture – old and young hyphs, conidia etc, provides variety in ion patterns and prevents forming single reproducible spectra for the analyzed isolate. These issues are addressed by various optimizations in methods of cultivation, sampling, protein extraction, spectra recording, and data analysis. Commercial systems exist, offering ready solutions of the problem; however, these systems also require adjustments to be effective in the clinical laboratory practice.Contribution of the authors: Kurbatova I.V. – concept and design of the study, editing; Rakitina D.V. – literature search, writing. All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final versionConflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.Acknowledgment. The research was carried out within the framework of the research work “Development of unified methods, including sampling, for the determination of microbiological and parasitological contamination of wastewater” (code “Wastewater”).Received: August 27, 2024 / Accepted: December 3, 2024 / Published: April 30, 2025

About the authors

Irina V. Kurbatova

Centre for Strategic Planning of the Federal medical and biological agency

Email: IKurbatova@cspfmba.ru

Daria V. Rakitina

Centre for Strategic Planning of the Federal medical and biological agency

Email: Rakitina@cspmz.ru

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