FIELD: microbiology.
SUBSTANCE: invention relates to microbiology. Method for identifying serovars of Leptospira bacteria using mass spectrometry is proposed. Method involves direct application of integral bacterial cells to a MALDI target using 2,5-dihydrobenzoic acid as a template. Spectrometry is carried out in the linear positive mode of operation of the MALDI-TOF mass spectrometer in the range of the mass-charge ratio of 600–6,000 Da. Identification of isolates is carried out by comparing the values of the molecular masses of repeating subunits of O-antigens in their spectral profiles with those of reference strains that are specific markers of serovars.
EFFECT: invention provides a rapid serotyping of leptospira strains isolated from ill people, infected animals or from the environment.
1 cl, 3 dwg, 3 ex, 1 tbl
