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Identification of Challenging Dermatophyte Species Using Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry

Summary

This study shows how MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, a rapid laboratory technique, can accurately identify different types of dermatophyte fungi that cause ringworm and other skin infections. By creating a customized reference library combining commercial and locally-collected fungal samples, researchers improved identification accuracy from 16% to 91%. This advancement helps doctors identify the specific fungus causing a skin infection more quickly and accurately, enabling better treatment decisions.

Background

MALDI-TOF MS is widely used for bacterial and yeast identification but less frequently applied to filamentous fungi due to inconsistent performance and limitations of commercial libraries. Dermatophytes are key fungal pathogens causing various skin infections transmitted through direct and indirect contact.

Objective

This study aimed to validate the efficiency of MALDI-TOF MS-based dermatophyte identification using the Bruker Biotyper system and establish an in-house reference library for challenging species in the Trichophyton, Nannizzia, Microsporum, and Epidermophyton genera.

Results

The expanded library achieved 90.7% accuracy at the species level compared to 16.1% with the Bruker library alone. Identification rates ranged from 88.0-100% for Trichophyton species, 75.0-100% for Nannizzia species, and 100% for Microsporum canis at LS cutoff of 1.7.

Conclusion

The standardized MALDI-TOF MS protocol with an expanded library combining commercial and in-house databases significantly improves dermatophyte identification accuracy. This approach demonstrates the feasibility and critical importance of in-house reference libraries for routine clinical laboratory identification of challenging dermatophyte species.
  • Published in:Journal of Fungi (Basel),
  • Study Type:Validation Study,
  • Source: PMID: 39997401
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