MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry: An efficient tool for rapid and reliable identification of bacterial strains isolated from forest soil

Soil contains the highest diversity level of bacterial communities. The rapidly developing field of soil microbiology seeks reliable and rapid methods for the identification of bacterial strains. This work compared three methods for taxonomical identification of bacterial strains obtained from forest soil samples of Algeria. The methods compared were: morphological, physiological and biochemical tests, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), and the sequencing of 16S rRNA gene. Use of morphological, physiological and biochemical tests, showed a limited application. The MALDI-TOF MS inferred existence of nine different bacterial species among the nine isolates (100% of the isolates were correctly identified to the species level with a high score ?2). All the isolates were identified using the 16S rRNA gene sequencing method which also proved the existence of the same nine different taxonomical units. This work showed a high potential of MALDI-TOF MS as an efficient tool for reliable identification and rapid discrimination of different bacterial strains isolated from forest soil with minimal time demand, reduced costs and simple handling of the samples.