Phospholipid analogue profiles of Peptostreptococcus, Micromonas, and Finegoldia species analysed by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry

Species of Peptostreptococcus cause a variety of infections, primarily absc esses of soft tissues, joints, and mucous membranes. The aim of this study was to compare the phospholipid analogue profiles of Peptostreptococcus spe cies, represented by P. anaerobius, P. asaccharolyticus, P. indolicus, P. l acrimalis, and P. prevotii; Micromonas micros (P. micros) and Finegoldia ma gna (P. magnus). After anaerobic growth on blood-FAA, lipids extracted by c hloroform-methanol (2:1 v/v) were purified, then analysed by fast atom bomb ardment mass spectrometry (FAB-MS) in negative ion mode. The major peaks wi th mass to charge (m/z) 719, 721, and 749, corresponded to phosphatidylglyc erol analogues, namely PG (32:1), PG (32:0), and PG (34:0), which have been found previously in Lactobacillus spp., Clostridium difficile, and Staphyl ococcus spp. Other major peaks observed, with m/z 619, 647, 665, 675, 677, 687, 691, 693, 701, 703, 707, 733, and 746 have also been reported in one o r more of these three species. However, other major peaks found here in Pep tostreptococcus, Micromonas, and Finegoldia have not been described elsewhe re; these are 501, 514, 515, 618, 659, 673, 676, 688, 690, 692, 694, 700, 7 06, 715, 718, 722, and 750. We conclude that Peptostreptococcus, Micromonas , and Finegoldia isolates are chemically unique.