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.
As of May 2021, Bruker Daltonik GmbH is now Bruker Daltonics GmbH & Co. KG.