Issue 14, 2022

Use of MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry for virus identification: a review

Abstract

The coronavirus pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) directly or indirectly affects every individual worldwide. The fight against SARS-CoV-2 is based on the rapid and accurate diagnosis and subsequent isolation of infected individuals. Therefore, the demands for the scientific development of diagnostic methods for the confirmation of SARS-CoV-2 are enormous. Currently, reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) is the main method used for detecting viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, and is considered the gold standard for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) identification. However, various alternatives have been investigated due to the time and cost demands of this method or to shortages of reagents. In this review, we focus on matrix-assisted laser desorption and ionisation with time-of-flight analyser mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) techniques as potential tools for the diagnosis of viruses with an emphasis on SARS-CoV-2. MALDI-TOF is commonly used in clinical laboratories for bacterial characterization and identification, but in the field of clinical virology, MALDI-TOF remains only a promising technology for routine diagnosis. This review provides an overview of the development of clinical virology from the point of view of using MALDI-TOF for virus identification and as a possible diagnostic tool for SARS-CoV-2 detection. In addition, this review summarizes the current state of standard methods for virus diagnostics including the preparation of clinical samples.

Graphical abstract: Use of MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry for virus identification: a review

Article information

Article type
Critical Review
Submitted
11 מרץ 2022
Accepted
01 יונ 2022
First published
17 יונ 2022

Analyst, 2022,147, 3131-3154

Use of MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry for virus identification: a review

T. Do, R. Guran, V. Adam and O. Zitka, Analyst, 2022, 147, 3131 DOI: 10.1039/D2AN00431C

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements