An Improved Method for the Analysis of Cryptosporidium parvum Oocysts by Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry

• Published in: The Journal of eukaryotic microbiology 2007-11, Vol.54 (6), p.479-481
• Main Authors: GLASSMEYER, SUSAN T., WARE, MICHAEL W., SCHAEFER III, FRANK W., SHOEMAKER, JODY A., KRYAK, DAVID D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Cryptosporidium parvum; Cryptosporidium parvum - chemistry; Cryptosporidium parvum - growth & development; excysted sporozoite; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects and techniques; MALDI-TOF MS; mass spectra; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; oocysts; Oocysts - chemistry; Protozoa; Reproducibility of Results; sample preparation; Specimen Handling - methods; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization - instrumentation; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization - methods; Sporozoites - chemistry
• ISSN: 1066-5234; 1550-7408
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1550-7408.2007.00287.x

Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts were analyzed using matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI–TOF MS). Sample preparation proved to be a crucial step in the acquisition of acceptable mass spectra. Oocysts of C. parvum and the matrix were mixed and held for at least 45 min to produce reproducible, representative mass spectra. Sporozoites were also excysted from oocysts, purified, and analyzed using MALDI–TOF MS. The mass spectra of the intact oocysts contained many of the same peaks found in the mass spectra of the sporozoites, suggesting that during analysis, the internal constituents, not just the oocyst wall, are ablated by the laser.