Rapid Identification of Vibrio Species Isolated from the Southern Coastal Regions of Korea by MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry and Comparison of MALDI Sample Preparation Methods

Vibrio species are generally recognized as pathogens predominant in seafood along coastal areas. The food industry has sought to develop efficient microbial detection methods. Owing to the limits of conventional methods, this study aimed to establish a rapid identification method for Vibrio isolated from Korea, based on matrix-assisted laser-desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Four different preparation procedures were compared to determine the appropriate means to pretreat Vibrio species, using 17 isolates and five reference strains. Extended direct transfer and full formic acid extraction methods using bacterial colonies on agar plates revealed very low identification rates. Formic acid and trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) extractions using bacterial broth cultures were also performed. All Vibrio isolates and reference strains prepared by TFA extraction were successfully identified to the species level (17/22, 77.3%) and to the genus level (5/22, 22.7%). Thus, TFA extraction was considered the most appropriate method to pretreat Vibrio species for MALDI-TOF MS. The remaining 33 isolates and two reference strains were prepared by TFA extraction and analyzed by MALDI-TOF MS. Overall, 50 isolates were identified to the species level (40/50, 80%) and to the genus level (10/50, 20%). All isolates were identified as 43 V. alginolyticus, six V. parahaemolyticus, and one V. vulnificus species. V. alginolyticus and V. parahaemolyticus were isolated from fish offal (87.5% and 12.5%, respectively), seawater (91.3%, 8.7%), and shellfish (62.5%, 37.5%), whereas V. alginolyticus and V. vulnificus were isolated from sediment (90.9% and 9.1%, respectively). This study established a reliable system of MALDI-TOF MS preparation and analysis for Vibrio identification.