Abstract Rapid and reliable identification of microorganisms is of paramount importance for advancing homeland security. Mass spectrometry is emerging as an effective bioanalytical tool having unique capabilities in handing complex mixtures. Matrix-assisted layser desorption / ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry ¡]MALDI/TOF MS¡^is commonly used in the analysis of bio-molecules owing to its merits of high sensitivity, wide mass range, and ease-of-operation. The objective of the first part of the thesis is to develop an analysis method to characterize the genus, strains, and subspecies of the infections gastroenteritis bacteria by using MALDI/TOF MS. MALDI/TOF MS can be applied to classify different microoganisms based on examination of ion patterns from different microoganisms and unique distinguishing protein ions as biomarkers for different strains. The second section, bacteriophages MS2 and T4 were used as materials for identification of their specific protein markers. Protocols including sample preparation, purification, combined in gel digestion and post source decay to which the mass spectrometer brought for analytical specificity were employed. According to the experimental results, classification of different microorganisms based on examination of ion patterns is feasible. Furthermore, the peak at m/z 5255 in the MALDI mass spectra of MS2 analysis and the peak at m/z 8600 of T4 can provide the unique distinguishing signals. The experimental mass spectral peaks were submitted to the database search, and one of these peaks was matched to a tail fiber assembly helper protein. Thus, the method developed and the mass spectra presented in this thesis can be potentially applied to the practical virus analysis.

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The aim of this study was to optimize the sample preparation and methods for analysis of oligosaccharides of hyaluronic acid with MALDI- TOF-MS. The analysis was carried out on an Autoflex speed MADLI-TOF- MS instrument with both linear and reflectron mode. Matrices used in this study were 2,5-DHB and Super-DHB and type of matrix was chosen depending on the size of the analyzed oligosaccharides. The application of sample and matrix on the target that gave the most homogenous crystallization was sandwich and the laser power in the MALDI was kept at 65 %. Since it is known that salts and buffers interfere with the analysis, sample clean-up such as solid phase extraction (SPE) in pipette tips and dialysis was performed. SPE worked best for low mass oligosaccharides and provided high intensity and little noise. With SPE a concentration of the analyte could be done which was the advantage over dialysis. Dialysis worked well for larger oligosaccharides and mixtures of different sized oligosaccharides. Another way of using MALDI for biomolecule analysis is with TLC-MALDI. A fast and accurate separation was achieved and analysis could be done directly from the plate. The optimized methods were evaluated according to linearity and precision, LOD, mass accuracy and matrix stability. The linearity and precision was good in a higher concentration range (50 μg/mL and higher), but the test for limit-of-detection (LOD) indicated that concentrations from 20-30 μg/mL could be analyzed with no interference from the background. The mass accuracy was within the acceptable limits according to Bruker Daltonics when a mass calibration was done for each analyzed sample. The stability of the matrix in solution was difficult to study because of the day-to-day variation in intensities given by the MALDI-TOF-MS technique.

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Yeasts of genus Cryptococcus belong to the Basidiomycetes, a wide group with different geographical sharing in nature. Many of them rank among human pathogens that endanger immunocompromised patients. Thanks to the big diversity at the level of subspecies, various species of the genus Cryptococcus show different molecular characteristics. Their identification is difficult because of the presence of polysaccharide capsule that surrounds the cell of some species. This work deals with the identification of species occurring in meadows and gardens. The 79 yeasts samples are identified by MALDI-TOF MS. The influence of different culture media on the identification results is monitored simultaneously with the identification. Since a capsule is present in many species, another parameter to be monitored is the influence of the sample preparation method and the matrix on the identification. 51 samples of yeasts of the genus Cryptococcus are identified at the species level in the experimental part. Selected samples are further subjected to the determination of characteristics by conventional microbiological methods. The determined parameters are the presence of urease, radial growth constant, susceptibility to antimycotics, fermentation and assimilation of sugars, growth in the presence of alcohols and growth in the absence of vitamins. The yeast samples are classified into yeast species based on microbiological results. Biotyping resulted in identification of selected samples in the species Filobasidium magnum, Filobasidium oeirense and Filobasidium wieringae. Other samples showed ambiguous identification. As these species have the same properties, they could not be distinguished by the selected microbiological tests.

Cryptococcus laurentii has been classically considered a saprophytic species, although several cases of human and animal infection have been already reported. This species is reported to be heterogenous. The taxonomy of yeast Cryptococcus laurentii was always highly ambiguous. The application of molecular biology and bioinformatic methods led to dividing of searched strains to two distinct phylogenetic groups, some varieties were recognized as species and the locution „Cryptococcus laurentii group“ was introduced. The taxonomy of this group is likely not definitive and with advancing knowledge will change. Our aim was the identification of individual species within this group based on matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization – time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI – TOF MS), which has recently been described as a rapid, reliable, cost-effective and powerful tool for analyzing of microorganisms, even on variety level. Generally, the yeasts of genus Cryptococcus form highly resistant polysaccharide capsules and produce large amount of extracellular polysaccharides, therefore belong to so called „difficult“ cases for biotyping. The experimental protocol has been optimized for MS analysis of this genus on the selected strains of Cr. neoformans, Cr. laurentii and Cr. magnus from the Culture Collection of Yeasts (CCY).Thirty-three strains, originally classified as Cryptococcus laurentii has been identified by chosen method. These strains were distributed into six different groups according their spectra similarities. It was selected at least one strain of each group, which was classified based on the sequence analysis of the D1/D2 domains of the LSU rRNA gene. This strain (with known sequence) became representative for its group. Type strain of Cryptococcus laurentii (CCY 17-3-2) belongs to the group I. Its MS spectrum of ribosomal proteins differ from mass spectra of all other biotyped species, even with strains identified as Cryptococcus laurentii was the similarity of the spectra low, which could be caused by identification of two different varieties. The group II is represented by Cryptococcus laurentii CCY 17-3-17. Except this strain, thirteen more strains belong to the group II. The group III represents Cryptococcus flavescens CCY 17-3-29. This group included 12 additional strains with almost identical mass spectra. Group IV included only one strain (CCY 17-3-13), which was identified as Cryptococcus carnescens based on gene sequence analysis. Similarly, one representative (CCY 17-3-5) has the group V. Strain CCY 17-3-5 was identified as Cryptococcus flavus. The last group VI of three members represents strain 17-3-35 identified as Bulleromyces albus. While Cr. laurentii and Cr. flavescens belong to phylogenetic group I and Cr. carnescens to the phylogenetic group II, four strains giving two types of different MS spectra and identified as Cr. flavus (1 strain) and Bulleromyces albus (3 strains) were excluded from „Cr. laurentii group.“

Les moustiques sont les principaux vecteurs incriminés dans la transmission d’agents pathogènes à l’homme. L’identification précise des espèces de moustiques est importante pour distinguer les espèces vectrices des non vectrices. La détermination de l’origine du repas sanguin des moustiques vecteurs est indispensable dans la compréhension du comportement des espèces vectrices. Nous avons mise à jour la littérature actuelle sur la faune Culicidienne du Mali. Ainsi, nous avons listé 106 espèces de moustiques actuellement enregistrée au Mali dont 28 Anophelinae et 78 Culicinae. Nous avons ensuite évalué l’efficacité du MALDI-TOF MS à identifier des moustiques collectés au Mali et déterminer leur source de repas sanguin. Nous avons confirmé la robustesse du MALDI-TOF MS à identifier un grand nombre de sang d’animaux. Nous avons artificiellement gorgé des femelles de An. gambiae et An. coluzzii sur différents types de sang d’animaux. Nous avons obtenu 100% d'identification correcte du repas de sang pour les spécimens collectés 1h à 24h après le gorgement. Ensuite nous avons expérimentalement gorgés An. gambiae, An. coluzzii et Ae. albopictus sur des repas de sang successif et mixte par MALDI-TOF MS. Nos résultats révèlent que le MALDI-TOF MS est tout à fait capable d’identifier le repas mixte. Mais en ce qui concerne le repas successif seul le dernier repas de sang est identifié. Enfin nous avons utilisé la culturomique et le MALDI-TOF pour l’étude du microbiote digestif de moustiques collectés sur le terrain au Mali et à Marseille. Cette approche a révélé une grande diversité du microbiote digestif des moustiques An. gambiae, Ae. albopictus et Cx. quinquefasciatus. / Mosquitoes are the main vectors involved in the transmission of pathogens to humans. Accurate identification of mosquito species is crucial to distinguish between vector and non-vector species. The mosquito blood meal determination is fundamental in understanding the behavior of vector species. Thus, we have listed 106 mosquito species currently recorded in Mali, including 28 Anophelinae and 78 Culicinae. Then, we evaluated the effectiveness of MALDI-TOF MS for identified mosquitoes collected in Mali and to determine their blood meal source. The results obtained show the ability of MALDI-TOF MS to identify mosquitoes collected in Mali and their source of blood meal. Subsequently, we were able to confirm the robustness of MALDI-TOF MS to identify other animal blood samples. We artificially engorged Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles coluzzii on eight animal bloods samples. We obtained 100% correct identification of the blood source for samples taken 1 to 24 hours after feeding. Then, we experimentally engorged An. gambiae, An. coluzzii and Ae. albopictus on successive and mixed blood meals using MALDI-TOF MS. The results revealed that MALDI-TOF MS is able to identify mixed blood meals. In addition we used MALDI-TOF and culturomics for the microbiota study of the mosquito collected in the field, notably in Marseille and Mali. The culturomics approach revealed a great diversity of the digestive microbiota of the An. gambiae, Ae. albopictus and Cx. quinquefasciatus mosquitoes.

Ce travail est composé de 3 parties. La première est une étude épidémiologique avec la détection moléculaire des spécimens appartenant à six espèces d’Argasidés collectées en Algérie et identifiées morphologiquement et par biologie moléculaire. Nous avons pu détecter Borrelia hispanica dans des Ornithodoros occidentalis et Borrelia cf turicatae dans des Carios Carpensis. Dans des Argas persicus nous avons pu identifier un nouveau génotype de Bartonella spp ainsi qu’un génotype appartenant à une nouvelle espèce dans la famille des Anaplasmataceae. Dans la 2e partie, nous avons évalué la capacité vectorielle des punaises de lit à transmettre Borrelia recurrentis, l’agent de la fièvre récurrente. Pour ce fait, nous avons utilisé un modèle expérimental d’infection artificielle de Cimex lectularius par B. recurrentis pour ensuite détecter la présence de la bactérie dans les fèces. Nous avons utilisé quatre approches : la détection par qPCR, la culture à partir des fèces, la FDA (Fluorescein Diacetate) et l’inoculation des fèces aux souris. Nous avons également utilisé l’Immunofluorescence pour localiser la bactérie dans le corps de la punaise. Nous avons constaté que les punaises de lit acquièrent la bactérie et excrètent des microorganismes vivants dans les fèces. Elles peuvent être considérées comme vecteur potentiel de Borrelia recurrentis. La troisième partie s’intéresse à l’évaluation de la capacité du MALDI-TOF MS à identifier les puces, les punaises et les pathogènes associés. / This work focuses on three main parts, a first part presents an epidemiological study of bacteria associated with soft ticks in Algeria, or we identified morphologically and confirmed by molecular biology six species of Argasidae. In addition, looking further we could detect Borrelia hispanica in Ornithodoros occidentalis and Borrelia cf turicatae in Carios Carpensis. On the other hand, in Argas persicus a new genotype of Bartonella spp has been identified as well as a new species of Anaplasmatacea bacteria.A second part evaluates the vectorial capacity of bed bugs to transmit Borrelia recurrentis, the agent of the relapsing fever. For this reason an experimental model of artificial infection of Cimex lectularius by Borrelia recurrentis has been developed, to study the presence of bacteria in feces. In this model, four approaches were used: qPCR, fece’s culture, FDA (Fluorescein Diacetate) and fece’s inoculation to mice. Immunofluorescence was also used to detect the location of the bacteria in the body of the bed bug. We confirmed that bed bugs acquire the bacteria and excrete live microorganisms in the feces. They can be considered as potential vector of Borrelia recurrentis.The third part is an assessment of the capacity of MALDI-TOF MS to identified fleas, bed bugs and associated pathogens. This innovative tool, which has revolutionized medical entomology and has shown its efficiency to identify several species of arthropods, has also been able to distinguish between infected and uninfected fleas and bugs, and even distinguish between fleas and bugs infected by the same species of bacteria.

Métodos microbiológicos tradicionais como isolamento, coloração de Gram e testes bioquímicos auxiliam na identificação do gênero Streptococcus, no entanto, as espécies apresentam ampla variação fenotípica, tornando difícil a identificação ou diferenciação das mesmas apenas por estes métodos. Uma das espécies mais importantes em suínos, Streptococcus suis, tem provocado grandes prejuízos em todo o mundo e tem sido descrito como uma importante zoonose em alguns países. S. suis está presente nas vias respiratórias superiores, colonizando principalmente tonsilas, cavidades oral e nasal facilitando a alta disseminação por contato direto, principalmente em leitões entre 4 e 12 semanas de vida. Os quadros clínicos mais frequentes em suínos infectados pelo S. suis são meningite, artrite e pneumonia. O objetivo do presente estudo foi identificar estirpes do gênero Streptococcus mediante as técnicas de reação em cadeia pela polimerase (PCR), sequenciamento parcial do gene 16S rRNA e espectrometria de massa MALDI-TOF (MALDI-TOF MS). As análises por PCR e por MALDI-TOF MS resultaram na identificação de 215 estirpes como S. suis e 35 como diferentes espécies pertencentes ao gênero Streptococcus. Os resultados da identificação das 35 estirpes pertencentes a outras espécies do gênero Streptococcus pelo MALDI-TOF MS foram confirmados pelo sequenciamento parcial do gene 16S rRNA, sendo que as duas técnicas apresentaram 100% de concordância. Os resultados obtidos indicam grande eficácia na utilização das técnicas avaliadas para a identificação de S suis e de outras espécies do gênero Streptococcus. A técnica de MALDI-TOF MS, apesar do custo elevado do equipamento, apresentou a vantagem de ser rápida, apresentar baixo custo por análise e reduzida utilização de material / Traditional microbiological methods such as isolation, Gram staining and biochemical tests help to identify the Streptococcus genus, however, the species present broad phenotypic variation, making it difficult for their identification or even differentiation just by these methods. One of the most important species in swine, Streptococcus suis, has led to great losses worldwide and has been described as an important zoonosis in some countries. S. suis is present in the upper airways, especially colonizing tonsils, oral and nasal cavities facilitating the high dissemination by direct contact, especially among piglets between 4 to 12 weeks of age. The most common clinical manifestations in pigs infected by S. suis are meningitis, arthritis and pneumonia. The aim of this study was to identify Streptococcus strains by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), 16S rRNA gene partial sequencing and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). PCR and MALDI-TOF MS analysis resulted in the identification of 215 strains as S. suis and 35 as different species of the Streptococcus genus. The identification of the 35 strains belonging to other species of the genus by MALDI-TOF MS was confirmed by 16S rRNA gene partial sequencing, and both techniques presented 100% concordance. These results demonstrate the high efficiency in the use of the evaluated techniques for the identification of S. suis and the other species of the Streptococcus genus. The MALDI-TOF MS technique, despite the equipment high cost, presented the advantage of being fast, have low cost per analysis and reduced material usage

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a técnica de espectrometria de massas por ionização/dessorção a laser assistida por matriz tempo-de-vôo (MALDI-TOF) para a identificação direta em amostras de leite (sem cultivo microbiológico) de bactérias causadoras de mastite. Para tanto foram realizados dois experimentos (1 e 2). No experimento 1, o objetivo foi determinar a sensibilidade diagnóstica da técnica MALDI-TOF MS para a identificação direta em amostras de leite de Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus uberis, Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus dysgalactiae e Escherichia coli. Foram realizadas contaminações experimentais de S. aureus, S. uberis, S. agalactiae, S. dysgalactiae e E. coli em amostras de leite, para a obtenção de contagens de 103 a 109 ufc/mL. As amostras de leite contaminadas foram processadas com o uso do kit Maldi Sepsityper® (Bruker Daltonics) e submetidas ao protocolo de lise bacteriana para posterior análise por MALDI-TOF MS. Espectros de massas foram coletados na faixa de massas de 2.000-20.000 m/z e foram analisados pelo programa MALDI Biotyper 3.0 (Bruker Daltonics) com as configurações padrão para obtenção da identificação bacteriana. A identificação direta de patógenos causadores de mastite a partir de amostras de leite foi possível em contagem ≥106 ufc/mL para S. aureus, ≥107 ufc/mL para E. coli, e ≥108 ufc/mL para S. agalactiae, S. dysgalactiae e S. uberis. No experimento 2, o objetivo foi avaliar o efeito da pré-incubação de amostras de leite de quartos mamários com mastite subclínica sobre a eficácia da identificação sem cultivo de patógenos causadores de mastite por MALDI-TOF MS. Foram selecionados 2 rebanhos leiteiros para coletas de leite de quartos mamários de todas as vacas em lactação. As amostras de leite foram submetidas às análises de: a) cultura microbiológica; b) pré-incubação seguida de identificação por espectrometria de massas diretamente do leite; c) contagem bacteriana total (CBT). Para a realização da CBT, as amostras de leite foram submetidas à citometria de fluxo; e para a identificação direta de patógenos causadores de mastite a partir do leite, as amostras foram submetidas ao desnate por centrifugação (10.000 Xg por 10 minutos), e pré-incubação a 37ºC por 12 horas. Posteriormente, as amostras foram processadas com o uso do kit Maldi Sepsityper® (Bruker Daltonics) e submetidas ao protocolo de lise bacteriana para posterior análise por MALDI-TOF MS. Do total de 810 amostras de leite analisadas por cultura microbiológica (método referência), 347 apresentaram crescimento bacteriano, sendo 305 identificadas como agentes de interesse na identificação direta pelo método MALDI-TOF MS: Staphylococcus coagulase negativa (n=191), S. aureus (n=31), S. agalactiae (n=42), S. uberis (n=37), S. dysgalactiae (n= 4). Sendo assim, 305 amostras foram analisadas pelo método de idenfificação direta MALDI-TOF MS, a qual apresentou baixa sensibilidade quando comparado com a cultura microbiológica (método referência): Staphylococcus coagulase negativa (14,08%), S. agalactiae (15,25%), S. uberis (1,69%) S. aureus (6,12%) e S. dysgalactiae (0%). A pré-incubação de amostras de leite não aumentou a sensibilidade de identificação direta de microrganismos causadores de mastite pelo método MALDI-TOF MS. / The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the technique of mass spectrometry by desorption / ionization assisted laser array time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF MS) for the direct identification in milk samples (no microbiological culture) of mastitis causing bacteria. Therefore, we carried out two experiments (1 and 2). In experiment 1, we determined the diagnostic sensitivity of MALDI-TOF MS technique for the direct identification in milk samples of Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus uberis, Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus dysgalactiae and Escherichia coli. Experimental contamination of S. aureus, S. uberis, S. agalactiae, S. dysgalactiae and E. coli in samples of milk to a concentration of 103-109 cfu/mL were performed. The contaminated milk samples were processed using kit Maldi Sepsityper® (Bruker Daltonics) and subjected to bacterial lysis protocol for analysis by MALDI-TOF MS. Mass spectra were collected in the mass range of 2000-20000 m/z and were analyzed by MALDI Biotyper 3.0 software (Bruker Daltonics) with default settings to obtain bacterial identification. Direct identification of mastitis causing pathogens from milk samples was possible at ≥106 cfu/mL for S. aureus, ≥107 cfu/mL for E. coli and ≥108 cfu/mL for S. agalactiae, S. dysgalactiae and S. uberis. In experiment 2, the objective was to evaluate the effect of pre-incubation of milk samples from mammary quarters with subclinical mastitis on the effectiveness of identification without cultivation, of mastitis-causing pathogens by MALDI-TOF MS. We selected mammary quarter milk samples from all lactating cows on two dairy herds. The milk samples were subjected to analyzes of: a) microbiological culture; b) pre-incubation followed by identification by mass spectrometry directly from milk; c) total bacterial count (TBC). Flow cytometry was used to determine TBC and; to directly identify the mastitis-causing pathogens from milk, fat was separated by centrifugation (10,000 Xg for 10 minutes) and; samples were pre-incubated at 37°C for 12 hours. Subsequently, the skim milk samples were submitted to kit Maldi Sepsityper® (Bruker Daltonics) and to the bacterial lysis protocol for analysis by MALDI-TOF MS. A total of 810 milk samples were analyzed by microbiological culture (reference method), of which 347 showed bacterial growth. Considering all culture positive samples 305 were identified as agents of interest in the direct identification by MALDI-TOF MS method: coagulase negative staphylococci (n = 191), S. aureus (n = 31), S. agalactiae (n = 42), S. uberis (n = 37) and S. dysgalactiae (n = 4). Therefore, 305 samples were directly identified by MALDI-TOF MS, which presented low sensitivity when compared to microbiological culture (Reference method): coagulase-negative staphylococci (14.08%), S. agalactiae (15.25 %), S. uberis (1.69%), S. aureus (6.12%) and S. dysgalactiae (0%). Pre-incubation of milk samples did not increase the sensitivity of the MALDI-TOF MS method directly identify mastitis-causing microorganisms.