Investigating the metabolome of resistant bacteria by high resolution mass spectrometry imaging with desorption electrospray ionization

Resumo

Pathogenic bacteria remains a primary target of a study due to its prevalence in the environment, specifically the healthcare setting. The use of antibiotics and antimicrobials are essential to treat the symptoms of harmful strains of bacteria. However, although medicinal alternatives exist to kill harmful microorganisms, bacteria have the capability to evolve. Because of this, resistant properties have become a growing problem in the healthcare setting, thus creating various scientific interests of study. High resolution mass spectrometry and imaging analyzes specific ions within a sample thus providing further identification of potential metabolites in Staphylococcus aureus. Therefore, metabolites produced by both resistant and non-resistant strains of bacteria were compared and evaluated. Profiling the metabolic production between the two strains provides a further understanding on how these resistant characteristics were formed, their biological gene function, and how they can potentially be treated.