Developing an automated preparation of microbiological samples for MALDI-TOF

Abstract

Bacteria play crucial roles in fields like food, environment, and human health. While some microorganisms are beneficial, such as those in the human gut aiding digestion, others are pathogenic, causing diseases like tuberculosis and Lyme disease [1,2]. Identifying bacteria at the species level is essential for an effective treatment, as susceptibility to antimicrobial agents can vary between species. However, clinical laboratories often rely on broader, less precise identifications, which can lead to a non effective treatment and/or the overuse of broad-spectrum antibiotics, contributing to antibiotic resistance [3]. This could be avoided with a proper sample preparation of the bacteria, which often takes more time. An automated process using a CTC PAL system would be cheap and quick, with the advantage to more precise identification of bacteria species.