An exploratory MALDI-TOF MS library based on SARAMIS superspectra for rapid identification of Aspergillus section Nigri.

Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) is a broadly used technique for identification and typing of microorganisms. However, its application to filamentous fungi has been delayed. The objective of this study was to establish a data library for rapid identification of the genus Aspergillus sect. Nigri using MALDI-TOF MS. With respect to sample preparation, we compared the utility of using mature mycelia, including conidial structures, to accumulate a wider range of proteins versus the conventional method relying on young hyphae. Mass spectral datasets obtained for 61 strains of 17 species were subjected to cluster analysis and compared with a phylogenetic tree based on calmodulin gene sequences. Specific and frequent mass spectral peaks corresponding to each phylogenetic group were selected (superspectra for the SARAMIS system). Fifteen superspectra representing nine species were ultimately created. The percentage of correct identification for 217 spectra was improved from 36.41% to 86.64% using the revised library. Additionally, 2.76% of the spectra were assigned to candidates that comprised several related species, including the correct species.

Evaluation of the effects of different additives in improving the DNA extraction yield and quality from andosol.

A series of additives were evaluated for their effects on improving the yield and quality of DNA extracted from recalcitrant soils. Levels of possible DNA contaminants in these supplements were also assessed. Three of the additives (skim milk, casein, and RNA) were shown to be effective in improving the stable extraction of DNA from recalcitrant samples of Andosol. However, whereas skim milk appeared to be the most effective additive for this purpose, our data indicated that this commercially sourced product contained considerable amounts of contaminant DNA (30 to 40 µg/g skim milk). A ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis (RISA) revealed the consistent contamination of different batches of this product with DNA of several species of both eukaryotes (cattle and protists) and prokaryotes. In particular, thermophilic bacteria such as Geobacillus and Anoxybacillus were identified in the sequenced PCR amplicons from skim milk. The results of the RISA clearly also indicated that the impact of contaminated DNA on the analysis of a microbial community could be significant when skim milk is used for extracting DNA from a recalcitrant soil. In contrast, only a trace amount of contaminating DNA was evident in casein and none was detected in the RNA examined in the present study.