Mass spectrometry tools and workflows for revealing microbial chemistry

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Analytical Chemistry
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Microbiology has evolved significantly since Van Leeuwenhoek's initial microscopic observations.
• Advancements in analytical technologies have established mass spectrometry as a key tool in molecular microbiology.
• Understanding microbial function, interaction, and communication remains a central goal.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review available and emerging mass spectrometry (MS) tools for microbial analysis.
• To highlight advancements in MS methods and workflows for microbiology.
• To discuss the potential of MS in microbial taxonomy, interaction, dereplication, and drug discovery.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of mass spectrometry applications in microbiology.
• Overview of analytical techniques and workflow improvements for microbial analysis.
• Synthesis of current and future directions in MS-based microbial research.

Main Results:

• Mass spectrometry offers powerful capabilities for interrogating microbes at the molecular level.
• MS methods are advancing for microbial taxonomic identification and understanding microbial interactions.
• The review covers MS applications in dereplication and drug discovery from microbial sources.

Conclusions:

• Mass spectrometry is a critical technology for the future of microbial analysis.
• Further development of MS tools and workflows will enhance our understanding of microbial chemistry.
• Addressing unsolved problems will unlock new potential in microbial research and applications.