Mass Spectrometry and Integrated Virus Detection System Characterization of MS2 Bacteriophage

This study demonstrates the characterization of the sample matrix composition of the MS2 virus using ESI-MS and IVDS detection systems. The MS2 samples were grown and purified using various techniques, which showed ESI-MS samples responding differently from IVDS samples. The LC-MS of the specific biomarker of the MS2 bacteriophage from an infected Escherichia coli (E. coli) sample was characterized in the presence of E. coli proteins. The significant impact of the sample matrix was observed upon the identification of MS2 using a database search. Escherichia coli infected with MS2 showed a different score from other uninfected scores. Only purified MS2, using CsCl and analyzed by LS-MS, showed a positive match in the database search. However, the variation in the MS2 sample matrix had no effect on the characterization of MS2. Prepared in collaboration with Geo-Centers, Inc., APG, MD and OptiMedtrics, Inc., Bel Air, MD.