The MALDI-TOF-MS User Platform

Corynebacteria, which are important pathogen agents for humans and animals, are summarized in the Corynebacterium (C.) diphtheriae group. This group includes in particular C. diphtheriae (pathogen of classical diphtheria), C. belfantii, C. ulcerans and C. pseudotuberculosis. Since 2020, further species have been described within the group: C. ramonii, C. rouxii, and C. silvaticum. These species are closely related to each other, making reliable species identification difficult. To date, these important new pathogens have not been integrated in common commercial databases. User made MSPs of all members of the C. diphtheriae group are available for exchange in the MALDI-UP catalog now.

Using these new reference entries, the species identification of the C. diphtheriae group in the Bruker Biotyper system can be improved. As evidence, four formal validations from the CVUA Stuttgart for C. diphtheriae, C. ulcerans+ramonii, C. pseudotuberculosis and C. silvaticum are now presented in the tools-section of the MALDI-TOF MS User Platform.

Targets: members of the C. diphtheriae group:

• C. diphtheriae
• C. ulcerans+ramonii
• C. pseudotuberculosis
• C. silvaticum

Validation for the BRUKER Biotyper database version K, extended by 1826 msp from the MALDI-UP catalogue.

Fully functional Excel reports in German.

Criteria based on the guidelines for MALDI validation in a single laboratory (BVL, 2022).

The work was carried out in support of the Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis consiliary laboratory (DVG) at the CVUA Stuttgart.

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MALDI-UP – Status 26.08.2024
Total reference entries: 6670 (+164)
Total validation spectra: 10642 (+17)

Further 155 database entries (Ascomycota) from the 'EMALiMB' (Expanded MALDI-TOF MAS Library for MALDI Biotyper ^® for fungi and bacteria) were listed.

Some new meat entries and new Vaccinium myrtilloides entries from CVUA Stuttgart were included.

Moreover, a first reference entry of the recently described species Cornybacterium ramonii (C. diphtheriae group) is added.

See: our MALDI-UP catalogue

Reference spectra available for exchange:

• 3323 bacteria (+2)
• 916 fungi (+155)
• 875 meat (+4)
• 822 fish + mollusca
• 112 insects and 123 crustacea
• 277 plants (+3)
• and 203 food and milk products

Validation spectra:

• 5783 bacteria (+4)
• 226 fungi
• 1810 meat (+4)
• 926 fish + 14 mollusca
• 98 insects and 509 crustacea
• 717 plants (+9)
• and 544 food and milk products

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In the tools section you can find:
Supplement to Rau et al. "Reliable delineation of Bacillus cytotoxicus from other members of the Bacillus cereus group by MALDI-TOF MS - an extensive validation study", Food Control, now available in open-access

Target: Bacillus cytotoxicus, a member of the B. cereus group

Validation for BRUKER Biotyper Database Version K

Validation for the BRUKER Biotyper database version K, extended by 1086 msp from the MALDI-UP catalogue

Fully functional Excel reports

Criteria based on the guidelines for MALDI validation in a single laboratory (BVL, 2022)

In addition, a new validation report for Clostridium perfringens for BRUKER Biotyper Database Version K is available [German].

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MALDI-UP – Status 09.07.2024
Total reference entries: 6512 (+292)
Total validation spectra: 10626 (+5)

From the freely available Zenodo dataset of the Robert Koch -Institute (RKI), Berlin all reference entries have now been listed in the MALDI-UP catalogue. With further entries from the genera Brucella, Enterobacter and Burkholderia the set is now completed. The Friedrich-Löffler-Institute (FLI), Jena generated a portion of these spectra.

Moreover, from Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology (IVB) Bern, some reference entries of the recently described species Mannheimia indoligenes were added.

Reference spectra available for exchange:

• 3320 bacteria (+291)
• 761 fungi
• 870 meat (+1)
• 822 fish + mollusca
• 112 insects and 123 crustacea
• 274 plants
• and 203 food and milk products

Validation spectra:

• 5779 bacteria (+5)
• 226 fungi
• 1806 meat
• 926 fish + 14 mollusca
• 98 insects and 509 crustacea
• 708 plants
• and 544 food and milk products

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MALDI-UP – Status 10.06.2024
Total reference entries: 6220 (+439)
Total validation spectra: 10628 (+76)

From the Zenodo dataset of the Robert Koch -Institute (RKI), Berlin a set of reference entries of bacteria (among others: Staphylococcus, Enterococcus, Yersinia,...) including msp for Francisella from the Friedrich-Löffler-Institute (FLI), Jena were added.

Further database entries from the 'EMALiMB' (Expanded MALDI-TOF MAS Library for MALDI Biotyper ^® for fungi and bacteria) were listed.

Reference spectra available for exchange:

• 3029 bacteria (+405)
• 761 fungi (+34)
• 870 meat
• 822 fish + mollusca
• 112 insects and 123 crustacea
• 274 plants
• and 203 food and milk products

Validation spectra:

• 5774 bacteria (+72)
• 226 fungi
• 1806 meat
• 926 fish + 14 mollusca
• 98 insects and 509 crustacea
• 708 plants (+4)
• and 544 food and milk products

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MALDI-UP – Status 02.05.2024
Total reference entries: 5781 (+312)
Total validation spectra: 10545 (+79)

More Clostridia from the Clostri-TOF database (see Tools section and Literature) and further reference entries from the 'EMALiMB' (Expanded MALDI-TOF MAS Library for MALDI Biotyper ^® for fungi and bacteria) were listed.

Moreover, new reference entries of Actinobacillus from Ghent University, created in connection with the ENOVAT project, were added.

Furthermore, we added some reference spectra of exotic animals.

Reference spectra available for exchange:

• 2624 bacteria (+14)
• 747 fungi (+284)
• 870 meat (+14)
• 822 fish + mollusca
• 112 insects and 123 crustacea
• 274 plants
• and 203 food and milk products

Validation spectra:

• 5702 bacteria (+65)
• 226 fungi
• 1806 meat (+14)
• 926 fish + 14 mollusca
• 98 insects and 509 crustacea
• 704 plants
• and 544 food and milk products

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MALDI-UP – Status 08.04.2024
Total reference entries: 5489 (+258)
Total validation spectra: 10465 (+76)

Various Clostridia from the Clostri-TOF database were listed. This database is freely available on Zenodo (Asare et al., 2023). Direct links to the article mentioned and the source of the database are also included in the MALDI-UP literature and toolbox.

Moreover, further reference enries from the 'EMALiMB' (Expanded MALDI-TOF MAS Library for MALDI Biotyper ^® for fungi and bacteria) were added.

In addition, we received several new validation spectra from Vaccinium from LAVES Braunschweig/Hannover.

Reference spectra available for exchange:

• 2610 bacteria (+140)
• 463 fungi (+117)
• 856 meat
• 822 fish + mollusca
• 112 insects and 123 crustacea
• 274 plants (+1)
• and 203 food and milk products

Validation spectra:

• 5636 bacteria (+25)
• 226 fungi
• 1792 meat (+9)
• 926 fish + 14 mollusca
• 98 insects and 509 crustacea
• 704 plants (+51)
• and 544 food and milk products

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MALDI-UP – Status 11.03.2024
Total reference entries: 5231 (+202)
Total validation spectra: 10389 (+21)

From Robert-Koch Institute (RKI) some Vibrio have been added. Moreover, first lines for database entries from EMALiMB (Expanded MALDI-TOF MAS Library for MALDI Biotyper ^® ) from different institutions in Japan were added.

The EMALiMB collection of BRUKER msp (fungi and bacteria) is freely available. A direct link is included in the MALDI-UP toolbox. We will include a selection of this metadata for better searchability in the MALDI-UP catalogue.

Reference spectra available for exchange:

• 2470 bacteria (+38)
• 346 fungi (+136)
• 856 meat (+10)
• 822 fish + mollusca
• 112 insects and 123 crustacea
• 273 plants (+4)
• and 203 food and milk products

Validation spectra:

• 5611 bacteria
• 226 fungi
• 1762 meat (+9)
• 926 fish + 14 mollusca
• 98 insects and 509 crustacea
• 653 plants(+12)
• and 544 food and milk products

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Streptococcus equi:

Subspecies assignments of S. equi equi and of S. equi zooepidemicus/ruminatorum using the collection of MSPs and validation spectra from MALDI-UP.

Strangles, a relevant disease of horses, is connected to the subspecies equi of S. equi.
In diagnostics, the differerentiation of. S. equi equi from the similar ssp S. equi zooepidemicus is a need as ssp. zooepidemicus is frequently isolated as commensals also from horses and other sources.

The reliable differentiation of the ssp. S. e. equi is therefore a prerequisite for targeted veterinary measures.

Following the Validation Guidelines for MALDI-TOF MS Identifications in a single laboratory (BVL, 2022), reports for the subspecies differentiation via MALDI-TOF MS for these two groups were compiled. We share this reports on MALDI-UP in the tools section to activate further exchange among MALDI-UP users.

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MALDI-UP – Status 29.01.2024
Now more than 10.000 validation spectra and more than 5.000 database entries are listed in our catalogue.
Total reference entries: 5029 (+239)
Total validation spectra: 10368 (+369)

The State Investigation Office Rhineland-Palatine (LUA-Rheinland-Pfalz) has provided new database entries from meat of Cairina moschata and Cervus elaphus. From BfR Berlin some Vibrio entries were completed. From CVUA Stuttgart new database entries mainly of plants have been contributed.
Moreover, further database entries of microorganisms from the Robert-Koch Institute (RKI) have been listed.
So far, 43 institutions from 9 countries have participated.

Reference spectra available for exchange:

• 2432 bacteria (+175)
• 210 fungi
• 846 meat (+24)
• 822 fish + mollusca
• 112 insects and 123 crustacea
• 269 plants (+49)
• and 203 food and milk products

Validation spectra:

• 5611 bacteria (+114)
• 224 fungi
• 1783 meat (+66)
• 926 fish + mollusca (+7)
• 98 insects and 509 crustacea
• 641 plants (+204)
• and 561 food and milk products

MALDI-UP – Status 28.11.2023
Total reference entries: 4798 (+141)
Total validation spectra: 9999 (+118)

The State Institute for Chemical and Veterinary Analysis of Food (CVUA) Freiburg has provided many new database entries, mainly from fish. From the state Institute for Chemical and Veterinary Analysis of Food (CVUA) Stuttgart new database entries of plants have been contributed. Moreover, further database entries of microorganisms by the Robert-Koch Institute (RKI) have been added.
So far, 43 institutions from 9 countries have participated.

Reference spectra available for exchange:

• 2257 bacteria (+39)
• 210 fungi
• 822 meat
• 822 fish + mollusca (+73)
• 112 insects and 123 crustacea (+7)
• 220 plants (+22)
• and 220 food and milk products
  

Validation spectra:

• 5497 bacteria
• 224 fungi
• 1717 meat
• 919 fish + mollusca (+72)
• 98 insects and 516 crustacea (+26)
• 437 plants (+20)
• and 561 food and milk products

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MALDI-UP – Status 27.10.2023
Total reference entries: 4657 (+198)
Total validation spectra: 9881 (+24)

New database entries from NoKo-LLBB have been added. Above all, special Pasteurellaceae. From CVUA Stuttgart new database entries of bird meat have been contributed. Moreover, further database entries of microorganisms by the Robert-Koch Institute (RKI) have been added.
So far, 43 institutions from 9 countries have participated.

Reference spectra available for exchange:

• 2218 bacteria (+188)
• 210 fungi
• 822 meat (+10)
• 748 fish + mollusca
• 112 insects and 116 crustacea
• 198 plants
• and 220 food and milk products
  

Validation spectra:

• 5496 bacteria
• 224 fungi
• 1717 meat (+24)
• 847 fish + mollusca
• 98 insects and 490 crustacea
• 417 plants
• and 561 food and milk products

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Streptococcus equi on species level - Validation report for MALDI Biotyper shared:

The validation study is performed analogue the criteria from the guidelines (BVL, 2022). The report for a single laboratory version v01 is available at the tools section [see Tools/Validation].

On 5^th July, our group made a first call for single spectra from confirmed Streptococcus strains of other institutions. We got support of four MALDI users (STUA Aulendorf, Germany; AGES LINZ, Austria; LALLF, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany; RWTH Aachen, Germany). Especially helpful were the spectra of the comprehensive reference strain collection of the RWTH Aachen. This support also provided evidence of the robustness of the targeted identification.

We are now continuing our effort towards the subspecies. Independently, further veterinary relevant examples of relevant Streptococcus will follow.

Any further contributions from the user community are welcome via MALDI-UP.

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MALDI-UP – Status 22.09.2023
Total reference entries: 4459 (+33)
Total validation spectra: 9857 (+213)

A comprehensive set of validation spectra of reference strains of Streptococcus from the Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule (RWHT) Aachen was contributed.
Moreover, further database entries of microorganisms by the Robert-Koch Institute (RKI) and from CVUA Stuttgart were added.
So far, 43 institutions from 9 countries have participated.

Reference spectra available for exchange:

• 2030 bacteria (+23)
• 210 fungi
• 812 meat (+6)
• 748 fish + mollusca
• 112 insects and 116 crustacea
• 198 plants (+2)
• and 220 food and milk products
  

Validation spectra:

• 5496 bacteria (+207)
• 224 fungi
• 1694 meat (+6)
• 847 fish + mollusca
• 98 insects and 490 crustacea
• 417 plants
• and 561 food and milk products

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Unter Events/Current Events auf der MALDI-UP Website finden Sie eine neue online Schulung auf Initiative der Fachgruppe AVID Deutschen Veterinärmedizinischen Gesellschaft (DVG).
14.11.2023: DVG-Fachgruppe AVID-Workshop: MALDI-TOF MS – von der Datenbank zu MALDI-UP // online

Rahmeninfos:

• Uhrzeit: 08:30–13:00 Uhr (MEZ)
• Sprache: Deutsch
• Für DVG Mitglieder ist die Teilnahmegebühr reduziert.

Weitere Details und das Formular zur Anmeldung finden Sie unter dem oben angegebenen Link.

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MALDI-UP – Status 04.08.2023
Total reference entries: 4426 (+82)
Total validation spectra: 9641 (+28)

Further database entries of microorganisms by the Robert-Koch Institute (RKI) were listed, as available on Zenodo.
Moreover, first database entries were contributed by CVUA Sigmaringen in cooperation with Albstadt-Sigmaringen University.
So far, 43 institutions from 9 countries have participated.

Reference spectra available for exchange:

• 1927 bacteria (+80)
• 210 fungi (+2)
• 806 meat
• 748 fish + mollusca
• 112 insects and 116 crustacea
• 196 plants
• and 218 food and milk products
  

Validation spectra:

• 5286 bacteria (+28)
• 224 fungi
• 1688 meat
• 847 fish + mollusca
• 98 insects and 490 crustacea
• 417 plants
• and 561 food and milk products

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Call from CVUA Stuttgart (CVUAS); initiated by Jörg Rau:
We are looking for Bruker MALDI system compatible spectra.

Our goal:
Validation of the actual database, on species and subspecies level according to the Guidelines for validating using MALDI-TOF-MS (BVL) [see Tools/Validation]

Your benefit:

• Your spectra will be listed in MALDI-UP
• For exchange, we offer msp from our own CVUAS collection
• We will publish the validation report(s) on MALDI-UP

If you have any questions, please contact us.

This call is open until 15.08.2023

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MALDI-UP – Status 04.07.2023
Total reference entries: 4344 (+567)
Total validation spectra: 9613 (+63)

New database entries of fish from Landesamt für Verbraucherschutz und Lebensmittelsicherheit Institut für Fische und Fischereierzeugnisse Cuxhaven (LAVES IFF CUX) and microorganisms by the Robert-Koch Institute (RKI) were added.
Moreover a database entry for Pseudomonas rustica koreensis, as a recently described species, was contributed by Max Rubner-Institut - Bundesforschungsinstitut für Ernährung und Lebensmittel Kulmbach, Institut für Sicherheit und Qualität bei Fleisch (MRI-FL Kulmbach).
So far, 40 institutions from 8 countries have participated.

Reference spectra available for exchange:

• 1927 bacteria (+307)
• 208 fungi
• 806 meat
• 747 fish + mollusca (+229)
• 112 insects and 116 crustacea (+10)
• 196 plants (+10)
• and 218 food and milk products
  

Validation spectra:

• 5258 bacteria (+31)
• 224 fungi
• 1688 meat (+24)
• 847 fish + mollusca
• 98 insects and 490 crustacea
• 417 plants (+6)
• and 561 food and milk products

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MALDI-UP – Status 10.05.2023
Total reference entries: 3777 (+122)
Total validation spectra: 9552 (+64)

New database entries from open data publishing platforms of microorganisms by the Robert-Koch Institute (RKI) and entries of fungi and yeast created by the group Oliver Bader from University Medical Center Göttingen were added.
Moreover first validation spectra from STUA Aulendorf – DZ were listed.
So far, 40 institutions from 8 countries have participated.

Reference spectra available for exchange:

• 1620 bacteria (+90)
• 208 fungi (+29)
• 806 meat (+2)
• 615 fish + mollusca
• 112 insects and 97 crustacea
• 186 plants
• and 218 food and milk products

Validation spectra:

• 5227 bacteria (+53)
• 224 fungi
• 1664 meat (+7)
• 835 fish
• 98 insects and 490 crustacea
• 411 plants
• and 561 food and milk products

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MALDI-UP – Status 04.04.2023
Total reference entries: 3655 (+26)
Total validation spectra: 9488 (+98)

New database entries of bacteria contributed by the Robert-Koch Institute (RKI) and CVUA Stuttgart as well as a first set of new single spectra from the recently published MALDI spectra dataset of the RKI (Zenodo v4) were added. The new contributor Institute for fish and fish products Cuxhaven from the Lower Saxony State Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety (LAVES-IFF), Germany, added their first database entries of fish species.

Reference spectra available for exchange:

• 1530 bacteria (+17)
• 179 fungi
• 804 meat (+5)
• 615 fish + mollusca (+4)
• 112 insects and 97 crustacea
• 185 plants
• and 218 food and milk products

Validation spectra:

• 5174 bacteria (+42)
• 224 fungi
• 1657 meat (+5)
• 835 fish
• 98 insects and 490 crustacea
• 410 plants
• and 561 food and milk products (+54)

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Since ResearchGate discontinued the project logs, we moved it to our very own website of MALDI-UP. The project log will show you updates about new entries in the MALDI-UP catalogue available for exchange as well as news about protocols or events like the MALDI workshop. Moreover we will send the newest log entry via email to those who are pleased to get the news directly into their mail box. You can cancel your subscription at any time.

Interested?
Simply send an email with "MALDI-UP ON" to

The team of MALDI-UP