To aid the fight against resistant bacteria, Bruker has developed the MBT STAR®-BL software module. This software expands the capabilities of the MALDI Biotyper® beyond the identification of microorganisms by enabling fast and accurate analysis of the level of β-lactamase activity in bacterial cultures in microbiological research.
To analyze β-lactamase activity, bacteria samples are co-incubated with a β-lactam antibiotic. Bacteria with β-lactamase activity will be able to hydrolyze the antibiotic. This hydrolyzation is coupled with a mass shift of the molecule which can be measured using mass spectrometry.
After incubation, the co-incubation sample is spotted onto a MALDI target plate and spectra of the antibiotic are acquired. After spectra acquisition, the MBT STAR®-BL software module automatically calculates the summed hydrolyzed and non-hydrolyzed (intact) antibiotic signal intensities and the corresponding ratio. Results are displayed as a plot that enables at-a-glance evaluation.
The assays can conveniently be performed within approximately one hour by utilizing the easy to use MBT STAR®-Carba and MBT STAR®-Cepha Kits, for rapid detection of carbapenemase and cephalosporinase activity respectively, starting from a culture plate or Sepsityper pellet.
For Research Use Only. Not for use in clinical diagnostic procedures.
Please contact your local representative for availability in your country.