Identification of Aedes mosquitoes by MALDI-TOF MS biotyping using protein signatures from larval and pupal exuviae

Abstract

Background: Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) biotyping is an innovative strategy, applied successfully for the identification of numerous arthropod families including mosquitoes. The effective mosquito identification using this emerging tool was demonstrated possible at different steps of their life-cycle, including eggs, immature and adult stages. Unfortunately, for species identification by MS, the euthanasia of the mosquito specimen is required. Methods:To avoid mosquito euthanasia, the present study assessed whether aedine mosquitoes could be identified by MALDI-TOF MS biotyping, using their respective exuviae. In this way, exuviae from the fourth-instar and pupal stages of Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti were submitted to MALDI-TOF MS analysis.Results: Reproducible and specific MS spectra according to aedine species and stage of exuviae were observed which were objectified by cluster analyses, composite correlation index (CCI) tool and principal components analysis (PCA). The query of our reference MS spectra database (DB) upgraded with MS spectra of exuviae from fourth-instar larvae and pupae of both Aedes species revealed that 100% of the samples were correctly classified at the species and stage levels. Among them, 93.8% (135/144) of the MS profiles reached the threshold log score value (LSV > 1.8) for reliable identification. Conclusions:The extension of reference MS spectra DB to exuviae from fourth-instar and pupal stages made now possible the identification of mosquitoes throughout their life-cycle at aquatic and aerial stages. The exuviae presenting the advantage to avoid specimen euthanasia, allowing to perform complementary analysis on alive mosquitoes.

Evaluating Different Storage Media for Identification of Taenia saginata Proglottids Using MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry

“…Indeed, MALDI-TOF MS is a widely used diagnostic tool in microbiologic routine diagnosis [21,22], which will also be increasingly available in laboratories of low-and middle-income countries [23]. Besides the identification of bacteria and fungi, this technique has also been successfully used for the differentiation of ticks and fleas [24], mosquitos [25], lice [26], and more recently, different helminths of medical and veterinary importance [13]. Hence, MALDI-TOF MS could also be employed for confirmatory testing of helminths in reference laboratories, for example, when no unambiguous identification is reached by conventional methods.…”

Identification of Adult Fasciola spp. Using Matrix-Assisted Laser/Desorption Ionization Time-of-Flight (MALDI-TOF) Mass Spectrometry

“…MALDI-TOF MS has become a standard diagnostic tool for bacteria [ 27 , 28 ] in the microbiological laboratory and is now increasingly being utilized for identification of yeasts and filamentous fungi as well as mycobacteria. In research settings, entomological studies have also employed MALDI-TOF for identification of ticks [ 23 ], mosquitoes [ 21 , 29 ], fleas [ 30 ], and lice [ 31 ]. Yet, data on application of MALDI-TOF MS for parasites, particularly helminths, are scarce.…”

Wing Interferential Patterns (WIPs) and machine learning for the classification of some Aedes species of medical interest

“…albopictus and Ae. aegypti 33 and on the fourth instar larvae 34 but with higher accuracy for late larval instar 35 . Its e ciency for eld-trapped or colony-reared insect adults is limited.…”