Identification of Lysinibacillus fusiformis Isolated from Cosmetic Samples Using MALDI-TOF MS and 16S rRNA Sequencing...

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Bacteriology
• Cosmetic Microbiology

Background:

• Lysinibacillus fusiformis is a Gram-positive bacterium linked to human illnesses like sepsis.
• Cosmetic products can potentially harbor human pathogenic microorganisms.
• Ensuring cosmetic safety requires rigorous microbiological surveillance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To detect and identify human pathogenic bacteria in cosmetic exfoliating creams.
• To evaluate the efficacy of MALDI-TOF MS and 16S rRNA sequencing for bacterial identification in cosmetics.

Main Methods:

• Microbiological examination of five exfoliating cream samples.
• Identification of bacterial isolates using VITEK® MS and MALDI-TOF MS.
• Confirmation of species identification via 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequencing.

Main Results:

• Eight Gram-positive bacterial isolates were recovered from the cosmetic samples.
• VITEK® MS provided preliminary identification, with two isolates identified as Lysinibacillus fusiformis.
• 16S rRNA sequencing confirmed all eight isolates as Lysinibacillus fusiformis, revealing no genetic variation.

Conclusions:

• MALDI-TOF MS and 16S rRNA sequencing are reliable methods for identifying human pathogenic bacteria in cosmetics.
• The presence of Lysinibacillus fusiformis highlights the importance of microbial testing in cosmetic product safety.
• This study underscores the public health relevance of monitoring cosmetic products for contaminants.