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Torrico MC, Fernández-Arévalo A, Ballart C, Solano M, Rojas E, Abras A, Gonzales F, Arnau A, Tebar S, Llovet T, Lozano D, Ariza-Vioque E, Gascón J, Picado A, Torrico F, Muñoz C, Gállego M. Usefulness of Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry in the Characterization of Leishmania Strains Causing Tegumentary Leishmaniasis in Bolivia versus hsp70 Gene Sequencing. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0347722. [PMID: 36633426 PMCID: PMC9927355 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03477-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) is a proteomic technique with proven efficiency in the identification of microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi, and parasites. The present study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of MALDI-TOF MS for the characterization of Leishmania species circulating in Bolivia using hsp70 gene sequencing as a reference technique. 55 Leishmania strains that were isolated from patients with tegumentary leishmaniasis were analyzed. MALDI-TOF MS identified two species of the L. braziliensis complex (L. braziliensis, n = 26; L. braziliensis outlier, n = 18), one species of the L. guyanensis complex (L. guyanensis, n = 1), one species of the L. lainsoni complex (L. lainsoni, n = 2), and two species of the L. mexicana complex (L. amazonensis, n = 5; and L. garnhami, n = 3). All of the strains were correctly identified at the subgenus, genus, and complex level, but 10 of them (18%) were misidentified as other species within the same complex by the hsp70 gene sequencing, with 7 of these corresponding to possible hybrids. Thus, one L. braziliensis corresponded to L. peruviana, two L. braziliensis corresponded to L. braziliensis/L. peruviana possible hybrids, two L. amazonensis corresponded to L. mexicana, and three L. garnhami and two L. amazonensis corresponded to L. mexicana/L. amazonensis possible hybrids. Accordingly, MALDI-TOF MS could be used as an alternative to molecular techniques for the identification of Leishmania spp., as it is low cost, simple to apply, and able to quickly produce results. In Bolivia, its application would allow for the improvement of the management of patient follow-ups, the updating of the epidemiological data of the Leishmania species, and a contribution to the control of tegumentary leishmaniasis. IMPORTANCE The objective of the study was to evaluate the usefulness of MALDI-TOF MS for the characterization of Leishmania species circulating in Bolivia, in comparison with the sequencing of the hsp70 gene. In our study, all of the isolates could be identified, and no misidentifications were observed at the complex level. Although the equipment implies a high initial investment in our context, MALDI-TOF MS can be used in different areas of microbiology and significantly reduces the cost of testing. Once the parasite culture is obtained, the technique quickly yields information by accessing a free database that is available online. This would allow for the improvement of the management of patients and follow-ups, the updating of the epidemiological data of the species, and a contribution to the control of tegumentary leishmaniasis in Bolivia. Likewise, it can be used to determine a specific treatment to be given, according to the causal species of Leishmania, when there are protocols in this regard in the area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Cruz Torrico
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Mayor de San Simón, Cochabamba, Bolivia
- Fundación CEADES y Medio Ambiente, Cochabamba, Bolivia
- Secció de Parasitologia, Departament de Biologia, Sanitat i Medi Ambient, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l’Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anna Fernández-Arévalo
- Secció de Parasitologia, Departament de Biologia, Sanitat i Medi Ambient, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l’Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cristina Ballart
- Secció de Parasitologia, Departament de Biologia, Sanitat i Medi Ambient, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l’Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Instituto de Salud Global de Barcelona (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marco Solano
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Mayor de San Simón, Cochabamba, Bolivia
| | - Ernesto Rojas
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Mayor de San Simón, Cochabamba, Bolivia
| | - Alba Abras
- Departament de Biologia, Universitat de Girona, Girona, Spain
| | - Fabiola Gonzales
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Mayor de San Simón, Cochabamba, Bolivia
| | - Albert Arnau
- Secció de Parasitologia, Departament de Biologia, Sanitat i Medi Ambient, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l’Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Departament de Biologia, Universitat de Girona, Girona, Spain
| | - Silvia Tebar
- Secció de Parasitologia, Departament de Biologia, Sanitat i Medi Ambient, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l’Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Teresa Llovet
- Servei de Microbiologia, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Departament de Genètica i Microbiologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Daniel Lozano
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Mayor de San Simón, Cochabamba, Bolivia
- Fundación CEADES y Medio Ambiente, Cochabamba, Bolivia
| | - Eva Ariza-Vioque
- Secció de Parasitologia, Departament de Biologia, Sanitat i Medi Ambient, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l’Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joaquim Gascón
- Instituto de Salud Global de Barcelona (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBERINFEC, ISCIII-CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III
| | - Albert Picado
- Instituto de Salud Global de Barcelona (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Faustino Torrico
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Mayor de San Simón, Cochabamba, Bolivia
- Fundación CEADES y Medio Ambiente, Cochabamba, Bolivia
| | - Carmen Muñoz
- Servei de Microbiologia, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Departament de Genètica i Microbiologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
- Institut de Recerca Biomèdica Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Montserrat Gállego
- Secció de Parasitologia, Departament de Biologia, Sanitat i Medi Ambient, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l’Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Instituto de Salud Global de Barcelona (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBERINFEC, ISCIII-CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III
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