AUTHOR=Li Ming-Chi , Chang Tsung C. , Chen Hung-Mo , Wu Chi-Jung , Su Shu-Li , Lee Susan S.-J. , Chen Po-Lin , Lee Nan-Yao , Lee Ching-Chi , Li Chia-Wen , Syue Ling-Shan , Ko Wen-Chien 

TITLE=Oligonucleotide Array and VITEK Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry in Species Identification of Blood Yeast Isolates

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2018

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2018.00051

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2018.00051

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p>We evaluated matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry using VITEK MS (IVD database) and an oligonucleotide array based on the internal transcribed spacer-1 (ITS-1) and ITS-2 sequences of rRNA genes for the identification of <italic>Candida</italic> spp. from blood cultures. Five-hundred and twelve consecutive bloodstream yeast isolates were collected daily and initially identified by the phenotypic automated method (VITEK YBC or VITEK2 YST card). Inconsistent results were confirmed by D1-D2 region of 28S rRNA genes and ITSs. Excluding two unidentified yeast isolates, the oligonucleotide array and VITEK MS correctly identified 99.6% (508) and 96.9% (494) of 510 yeast isolates, respectively. The oligonucleotide array and VITEK MS demonstrated high correct identification rates for four major <italic>Candida</italic> species (<italic>C. albicans</italic> 100%, 98.4%; <italic>C. glabrata</italic> 100%, 100%; <italic>C. parapsilosis</italic> 100%, 93.3%; <italic>C. tropicalis</italic> 100%, 97.3%), but lower correct identification rates for other <italic>Candida</italic> species (91.7 and 87.5%, respectively). In conclusion, the identification performance of the oligonucleotide array is comparable to that of VITEK MS, and can serve as a supplemental tool for the identification of <italic>Candida</italic> species.</p>