Spectra

MALDI-TOF based identification of microorganisms has revolutionized the field of microbiology and an increasing amount of clinical diagnostic laboratories are adopting this technique. Spectra was created to ensure that the databases for MALDI-TOF based identification of microorganisms are continuously updated. Spectra aims also to improve the identification of microorganisms by including more biological replicates for each species, by including regional variants of specific species and by continuously adding organisms that are not represented in the databases. Spectra is also intended to be a hub for MALDI-TOF users to meet and discuss problems, new techniques, protocols and so on.

We are currently searching for partners to expand the bioMérieux Vitek® MS SARAMIS database since the Public Health agency of Sweden only has a Bruker Biotyper® system. If you are interested in participating and contributing to the expansion of the Vitek® MS database please contact us by using the form found under the contact tab. We collaborate with other institutions to generate new spectra, but only users that are validated by the administrator can upload spectra to this database, this is necessary to keep a high quality standard and ensure that all spectra are generated according to the parameters set by Bruker or bioMérieux. If you are interested in contributing to this database the easiest way is to contact your local Bruker or bioMérieux representative and undergo the training organized by the respective company. We encourage clinical laboratories to send us reference or clinical strains that were either misidentified or given a low score using the commercial databases. Instructions for how to send the strains can be found under the instruction tab.

Click on apply for account and fill in your information. The account will be activated once the administrator has approved the application.

You can unregister a user by ticking the box next to disable user wich is found under settings. Settings appears when you click on your login ID. The user will then be unregistered by the administrator.

You can send a request to the administrator to be acceppted as an uploader. You apply by ticking the box next to file uploader wich is found under settings. Settings appears when you click on your login ID. We do have strict regulations regarding who can upload data to the database to ensure that only spectra of good quality are added.

These spectra will be stored under projects. When you are starting a classification run using Biotyper RTC just select both the Bruker database and projects and your samples will be matched against both databases.

We add strains to the database based primarily on the following criteria.[img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=cr] 1. We add strains for organisms that have a low ID score on the species level.[img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=cr] 2. We add strains for organisms that aren't represented in the commercial databases. [img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=cr] 3. We add spectra for organisms that have spectra of poor quality in the commercial databases.

Only users that are validated by the administrator can upload spectra to this database, this is necessary to keep a high quality standard and ensure that all spectra are generated according to the parameters set by Bruker or bioMérieux. Organisms should be identified according to the gold standard for that species or genus, this can be done for example by biochemical methods or by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis.

You can send a request to the administrator to be acceppted for downloading BSL3 classified spectra. You apply by ticking the box next to BSL3 access wich is found under settings. Settings appears when you click on your login ID. We only grant this possibility to users that work at an institute or laboratory equipped with a BSL3 laboratory.

Because only institutions equipped with BSL3 laboratories should work with these organisms. We may grant access to [img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=i]Brucella[img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=/i] [img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=i]melitensis[img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=/i], [img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=i]Burkoholderia[img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=/i] [img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=i]mallei[img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=/i] and [img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=i]Francisella[img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=/i] [img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=i]tulariensis[img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=/i] spectra to clinical laboratories to reduce the amount of personnel exposure in routine diagnostics.

We follow the LPSN (List of Prokaryotic names with Standing in Nomenclature [img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=img=url=http://www.bacterio.cict.fr/]) taxonomy and nomenclature. If a species is known under one or more synonyms we add the alternative names under the comment column in the database.

Although we might be able to answer your questions we encourage users to address such questions the the manufacturer or use the forum present on this site to discuss your problem with other users.

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