Study of purified bacteria and viruses by pyrolysis mass spectrometry

Pyrolysis mass spectrometry (Py-MS), incorporating an in situ thermal hydrolysis and methylation (THM) step, was used to profile methylated lipids (e.g., fatty acids and cholesterol) from pathogenic viruses and bacteria by means of a field-portable ion-trap MS instrument referred to as the chemical/biological mass spectrometer (CBMS). The CBMS has been successfully tested for biological warfare agents to give correct classification (three classes—spore, vegetative cell, and toxin) in both field and chamber tests. Incorporating an in situ THM step in the CBMS will improve its capabilities to better identify biomarkers from bacteria and viruses. Mass spectra of one bacterial and two viral pathogens (grown by cell cultures) were produced with a total analysis time of 3 min per profile and could be separated when examined by principal-component analysis (PCA). © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Field Analyt Chem Technol 3: 357–374, 1999