MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry Analysis and Human Post-Mortem Microbial Community: A Pilot Study

Carlo Pietro Campobasso, Gennaro Mastroianni, Alessandro Feola, Pasquale Mascolo, Anna Carfora, Bruno Liguori, Pierluca Zangani, Federica Dell’Annunziata, Veronica Folliero, Arianna Petrillo, Maria Elena Della Pepa, Francesca Martora and Marilena Galdiero
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Carlo Pietro Campobasso: Department of Experimental Medicine, Legal Medicine Section, University of Study of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy
Gennaro Mastroianni: Department of Experimental Medicine, Legal Medicine Section, University of Study of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy
Alessandro Feola: Department of Experimental Medicine, Legal Medicine Section, University of Study of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy
Pasquale Mascolo: Department of Experimental Medicine, Legal Medicine Section, University of Study of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy
Anna Carfora: Department of Experimental Medicine, Legal Medicine Section, University of Study of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy
Bruno Liguori: Department of Experimental Medicine, Legal Medicine Section, University of Study of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy
Pierluca Zangani: Department of Experimental Medicine, Legal Medicine Section, University of Study of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy
Federica Dell’Annunziata: Department of Experimental Medicine, Microbiology Section, University of Study of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy
Veronica Folliero: Department of Experimental Medicine, Microbiology Section, University of Study of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy
Arianna Petrillo: Pediatric Unit, Fondazione IRCCS “Ca’ Granda-Ospedale Maggiore-Policlinico”, 20122 Milan, Italy
Maria Elena Della Pepa: Department of Experimental Medicine, Microbiology Section, University of Study of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy
Francesca Martora: Department of Experimental Medicine, Microbiology Section, University of Study of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy
Marilena Galdiero: Department of Experimental Medicine, Microbiology Section, University of Study of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 7, 1-12

Abstract: Introduction: The human post-mortem microbiome (HPM) plays a major role in the decomposition process. Successional changes in post-mortem bacterial communities have been recently demonstrated using high throughput metagenomic sequencing techniques, showing great potential as a post-mortem interval (PMI) predictor. The aim of this study is to verify the application of the mass spectrometry technique, better known as MALDI-TOF MS (matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry), as a cheap and quick method for microbe taxonomic identification and for studying the PM microbiome. Methods: The study was carried out on 18 human bodies, ranging from 4 months to 82 years old and with a PMI range from 24 h up to 15 days. The storage time interval in the coolers was included in the final PMI estimates. Using the PMI, the sample study was divided into three main groups: seven cases with a PMI < 72 h; six cases with a PMI of 72–168 h and five cases with a PMI > 168 h. For each body, microbiological swabs were sampled from five external anatomical sites (eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and rectum) and four internal organs (brain, spleen, liver, and heart). Results: The HPM became increasingly different from the starting communities over time in the internal organs as well as at skin sites; the HPM microbiome was mostly dominated by Firmicutes and Proteobacteria phyla; and a PM microbial turnover existed during decomposition, evolving with the PMI. Conclusions: MALDI-TOF is a promising method for PMI estimation, given its sample handling, good reproducibility, and high speed and throughput. Although several intrinsic and extrinsic factors can affect the structure of the HPM, MALDI-TOF can detect the overall microbial community turnover of most prevalent phyla during decomposition. Limitations are mainly related to its sensitivity due to the culture-dependent method and bias in the identification of new isolates.

Keywords: human post-mortem microbiome; MALDI-TOF; post-mortem interval; thanatomicrobiota; epinecrotic communities (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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