Direct surface analysis of fungal species by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry.

In this study various methods of sample preparation and matrices were investigated to determine optimum collection and analysis criteria for fungal analysis by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS). Intact spores and/or hyphae of Aspergillus niger, Rhizopus oryzae, Trichoderma reesei and Phanerochaete chrysosporium were analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS). The fungal samples were applied to the MALDI sample target as untreated, sonicated, or acid/heat treated samples, or blotted directly from the fungal culture with double-stick tape. Ferulic acid or sinapinic acid matrix solution was layered over the dried samples and analyzed by MALDI-MS. Statistical analysis showed that simply using double-stick tape to collect and transfer to a MALDI sample plate typically worked as well as the other preparation methods, and required the least sample handling.