A combined approach of MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and multivariate analysis as a potential tool for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 virus in nasopharyngeal swabs

• Published in: Journal of virological methods Vol. 286; p. 113991
• Main Authors: Rocca, María Florencia, Zintgraff, Jonathan Cristian, Dattero, María Elena, Santos, Leonardo Silva, Ledesma, Martín, Vay, Carlos, Prieto, Mónica, Benedetti, Estefanía, Avaro, Martín, Russo, Mara, Nachtigall, Fabiane Manke, Baumeister, Elsa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.12.2020
• Subjects: Betacoronavirus - isolation & purification; Clinical Laboratory Techniques - methods; Coronavirus Infections - diagnosis; Coronavirus Infections - virology; COVID-19; COVID-19 infection; COVID-19 Testing; COVID-19 Vaccines; Humans; Machine Learning; MALDI-TOF; Mass Screening - methods; Mass spectrometry; matrix-assisted laser desorption-ionization mass spectrometry; Multivariate Analysis; Nasopharynx - virology; Pandemics; Pneumonia, Viral - diagnosis; Pneumonia, Viral - virology; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; SARS-CoV-2; Sensitivity and Specificity; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization - methods; viruses; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; MALDI-TOF; Mass spectrometry; Machine learning
• ISSN: 0166-0934; 1879-0984; 1879-0984
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2020.113991

•This study with MALDI-TOF comprises, as far as we know, the first report describing the performance of this technology with COVID-19 diagnosis.•This work would encourage researchers to explore the potential of MALDI-TOF MS to assess the feasibility of this technology, as a rapid and reproducible screening tool for diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2.•According to our preliminary results, mass spectrometry-based methods combined with multivariate analysis showed potential as a complementary diagnostic tool. Coronavirus disease 2019, known as COVID-19, is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The early, sensitive and specific detection of SARS-CoV-2 virus is widely recognized as the critical point in responding to the ongoing outbreak. Currently, the diagnosis is based on molecular real time RT-PCR techniques, although their implementation is being threatened due to the extraordinary demand for supplies worldwide. That is why the development of alternative and / or complementary tests becomes so relevant. Here, we exploit the potential of mass spectrometry technology combined with machine learning algorithms, for the detection of COVID-19 positive and negative protein profiles directly from nasopharyngeal swabs samples. According to the preliminary results obtained, accuracy = 67.66 %, sensitivity = 61.76 %, specificity = 71.72 %, and although these parameters still need to be improved to be used as a screening technique, mass spectrometry-based methods coupled with multivariate analysis showed that it is an interesting tool that deserves to be explored as a complementary diagnostic approach due to the low cost and fast performance. However, further steps, such as the analysis of a large number of samples, should be taken in consideration to determine the applicability of the method developed.