DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN BACTERIAL SPECIES AND SUBSPECIES BY PYROLYSISMASS-SPECTROMETRY OF EXTRACTED DNA

Whole cell samples from cultures of Staphylococcus aurues, S. hominis, S. epidermidis and Streptococcus pyogenes were analysed by pyrolysis mass spectrometry and the results were compared with Py-MS-derived ana lyses of samples of DNA extracted from the same organisms. Py-MS analy sis differentiated the four organisms in both circumstances. These res ults challenge previous assumptions that PB-MS is restricted to detect ing phenotypic differences, although the basis for the differentiation of the DNA extracts has yet to be determined.