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Updated: Jan 11, 2026
Identification of Rare Bacterial Pathogens by 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing and MALDI-TOF MS
Published on: July 11, 2016
Comparative evaluation of MALDI-TOF MS and PFGE for typing and transmission analysis of Corynebacterium striatum in
Zhanpeng Yu1, Qiao Jiang2, Jinqiao Qin3
1Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; KingMed School of Laboratory Medicine, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
Objective:
Corynebacterium striatum (C.striatum) is an emerging multidrug-resistant opportunistic pathogen frequently isolated in intensive care units (ICUs). Accurate strain typing is critical for identifying transmission routes and implementing effective infection control strategies. This study aimed to compare the discriminatory power of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) in the strain-level typing of C. striatum.
Methods:
A total of 15 non-duplicate C. striatum isolates were collected from ICU patients between March and May 2024. Strain typing was performed using PFGE and MALDI-TOF MS, the latter analyzed via two platforms: the MALDI Biotyper and the open-source Mass-Up. Clustering results were compared based on Simpson's Diversity Index (SDI), Adjusted Rand Index (ARI), and Adjusted Wallace (AW) coefficient. PFGE results were also integrated with temporal and spatial data to assess potential transmission events.
Results:
PFGE identified eight pulsotypes and revealed possible intra-ICU transmission patterns. PFGE showed the highest SDI (0.867), followed by Mass-Up (0.790) and MALDI Biotyper (0.771). MALDI Biotyper exhibited moderate concordance with PFGE (ARI = 0.557; AW = 0.423), while Mass-Up showed low agreement (ARI = 0.270; AW = 0.213). PFGE-based clustering aligned more closely with clinical timelines and bed distribution.
Conclusion:
PFGE demonstrated superior discriminatory power and epidemiological relevance. MALDI-TOF MS, especially when processed via Mass-Up, showed limited capacity to replace PFGE for strain typing. Future improvements in data processing are needed before MALDI-TOF MS can be considered a reliable alternative in nosocomial surveillance.
Insights
Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) is superior for typing multidrug-resistant Corynebacterium striatum strains in ICUs. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) requires further development for reliable nosocomial surveillance.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Corynebacterium striatum is an emerging multidrug-resistant pathogen in intensive care units (ICUs).
- Accurate strain typing is crucial for controlling C. striatum outbreaks.
- Identifying transmission routes is essential for effective infection control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the discriminatory power of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) for C. striatum strain typing.
- To evaluate the utility of MALDI-TOF MS platforms (MALDI Biotyper and Mass-Up) against PFGE.
- To assess the epidemiological relevance of different typing methods in an ICU setting.
Main Methods:
- 15 non-duplicate C. striatum isolates from ICU patients were analyzed.
- Strain typing was performed using PFGE and MALDI-TOF MS (MALDI Biotyper and Mass-Up).
- Discriminatory power was assessed using Simpson's Diversity Index (SDI), Adjusted Rand Index (ARI), and Adjusted Wallace (AW) coefficient.
Main Results:
- PFGE identified eight pulsotypes and suggested intra-ICU transmission.
- PFGE exhibited the highest discriminatory power (SDI=0.867), followed by Mass-Up (0.790) and MALDI Biotyper (0.771).
- MALDI Biotyper showed moderate concordance with PFGE (ARI=0.557), while Mass-Up had low agreement (ARI=0.270).
Conclusions:
- PFGE demonstrated superior discriminatory power and epidemiological relevance for C. striatum strain typing.
- MALDI-TOF MS, particularly Mass-Up, has limited current capacity to replace PFGE for nosocomial surveillance.
- Further advancements in MALDI-TOF MS data processing are necessary for its adoption as a reliable alternative.
