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J Virol Methods
. 2020 Oct 9;113991.
doi: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2020.113991. Online ahead of print.
A combined approach of MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry and multivariate analysis as a potential tool for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 virus in nasopharyngeal swabs
Mar?a Florencia Rocca 1 , Jonathan Cristian Zintgraff 2 , Mar?a Elena Dattero 3 , Leonardo Silva Santos 4 , Mart?n Ledesma 5 , Carlos Vay 6 , M?nica Prieto 2 , Estefan?a Benedetti 3 , Mart?n Avaro 3 , Mara Russo 3 , Fabiane Manke Nachtigall 7 , Elsa Baumeister 3
Affiliations
- PMID: 33045283
- DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2020.113991
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019, known as COVID-19, is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The early, sensitive and specific detection of SARS-CoV-2 virus is widely recognized as the critical point in responding to the ongoing outbreak. Currently, the diagnosis is based on molecular real time RT-PCR techniques, although their implementation is being threatened due to the extraordinary demand for supplies worldwide. That is why the development of alternative and / or complementary tests becomes so relevant. Here, we exploit the potential of mass spectrometry technology combined with machine learning algorithms, for the detection of COVID-19 positive and negative protein profiles directly from nasopharyngeal swabs samples. According to the preliminary results obtained, accuracy = 67.66%, sensitivity = 61.76%, specificity = 71.72%, and although these parameters still need to be improved to be used as a screening technique, mass spectrometry-based methods coupled with multivariate analysis showed that it is an interesting tool that deserves to be explored as a complementary diagnostic approach due to the low cost and fast performance. However, further steps, such as the analysis of a large number of samples, should be taken in consideration to determine the applicability of the method developed.
Keywords: COVID-19; MALDI-TOF; Mass spectrometry; SARS-CoV-2; machine learning.