Identification of phlebotomine sand flies using one MALDI-TOF MS reference database and two mass spectrometer systems
Alexander Mathis1, Jérôme Depaquit2, Vit Dvořák3
1Swiss National Centre for Vector Entomology, Institute of Parasitology, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, 8057, Zürich, Switzerland. alexander.mathis@uzh.ch.
Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) accurately identifies sand flies. A new database allows cross-platform analysis, improving vector surveillance for arthropod-borne diseases.
Area of Science:
- Entomology
- Mass Spectrometry
- Vector-borne Diseases
Background:
- Accurate, high-throughput identification of vector arthropods is crucial for monitoring arthropod-borne diseases.
- Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) offers a rapid identification method.
- Existing reference databases for vector taxa are limited, often relying on laboratory-reared specimens.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish and validate a comprehensive reference database for phlebotomine sand fly species identification using MALDI-TOF MS.
- To assess the impact of specimen storage conditions on identification accuracy.
- To evaluate the cross-platform compatibility of MALDI-TOF MS data for sand fly identification.
Main Methods:
- A reference database was created for 20 phlebotomine sand fly species using specimens from colonies and field collections.
- Specimens were stored under various conditions (fresh, deep-frozen, ethanol-preserved) for up to 25 years.
- MALDI-TOF MS was performed on Bruker and Shimadzu instruments to analyze mass spectra and validate database performance.
Main Results:
- Identical mass spectra ('superspectra') were obtained for colony- and field-derived specimens of the same species.
- High-quality spectra were achieved with fresh and deep-frozen specimens (up to 25 years), but ethanol-preserved specimens showed reduced identification rates.
- The validated database demonstrated high sensitivity (87-98.3%) and specificity (97.4-100%) across different instruments and specimen types.
Conclusions:
- A centralized, high-quality MALDI-TOF MS database is essential for accurate and efficient vector identification.
- Spectra generated on different instruments can be reliably analyzed using a centralized database.
- An online platform for accessing this database is proposed to facilitate cost-efficient identification services.
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