Many microbiologists retain a bad taste in the mouth from the early hype about how the technique or others could tell one species of microorganism from another. Those contributing here, however, have laid that aside to explore what can actually be done and what might become possible in the future if research is pushed in certain directions. Among their topics are the development of the block II chemical biological mass spectrometer, studies of malaria, bacterial strain differentiation, and a focused approach to developing molecular-based identification systems. Annotation ©2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
A multidisciplinary approach to understanding the fundamentals of mass spectrometry for bacterial analysis
From chemotaxonomy to characterization of targeted proteins, Identification of Microorganisms by Mass Spectrometry provides an overview of both well-established and cutting-edge mass spectrometry techniques for identifying microorganisms. A vital tool for microbiologists, health professionals, and analytical chemists, the text is designed to help scientists select the most effective techniques for use in biomedical, biochemical, pharmaceutical, and bioterror defense applications.
Since microbiological applications of mass spectrometry require a basic understanding of both microbiology and analytical chemistry, the editors have incorporated material from both disciplines so that readers from either field will come to understand the necessary principles of the other. Featuring contributions from some of the most recognized experts in both fields, this volume provides specific examples of fundamental methods as well as approaches developed in the last decade, including:
* Metastable atom bombardment pyrolysis mass spectrometry
* Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI)
* MALDI time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) of intact bacteria
* High-resolution Fourier transform mass spectrometry (FTMS)
* Electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometry
Identification of Microorganisms by Mass Spectrometry represents the most comprehensive and up-to-date work on the topic currently available. It is liberally illustrated with figures and tables and covers every aspect of spectrometric identification of microorganisms, including experimental procedures, various means of sample preparation, data analysis, and interpretation of complex mass spectral data.
