Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
Mastitis continues to be the most frequent and widespread disease of dairy cattle and causes a similar disease challenge in dairy goats. Furthermore, mastitis and other infectious diseases associated with bacteria are commonly treated with antimicrobials, which can lead to the development of antimicrobial resistance and treatment failure. To advance scientific knowledge for controlling and preventing these bacterial diseases of cattle and small ruminants and to investigate antimicrobial resistance, bacteria must be cultured and isolated for accurate identification in the laboratory. Although standard culture methods provide useful information for identifying bacteria, they are often inadequate for efficiently delivering the best results for bacterial identification at the genus and species levels. The objective of this project is to acquire a special-purpose, shared-use laboratory instrument for rapid, accurate, and efficient identification of bacterial isolates at the species or subspecies level. Specifically, a sophisticated laboratory instrument that uses a laser beam in conjunction with a mass spectrometry method will provide accurate bacterial identification based on unique molecular fingerprints that have been characterized for thousands of different bacterial species and in a span of time that averages less than 20 seconds for each bacterial sample. This equipment will help to fulfill One Health objectives of the USDA Science Blueprint and will be located at the UC Davis Veterinary Medicine Teaching and Research Center in Tulare, California. This project will provide access to and enhance the capabilities of researchers in microbial identification among University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources advisors, specialists, and faculty members.
Animal Health Component
40%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
30%
Applied
40%
Developmental
30%
Goals / Objectives
This project aims to integrate MALDI-TOF technology into our research and training programs at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. This integration will significantly enhance our capabilities in microbial identification, antimicrobial resistance detection, and fundamental research on microbial taxonomy. The specific objectives of this project are as follows:1.Enhance Diagnostic and Surveillance Capabilities for Livestock Pathogens: The project aims to leverage MALDI-TOF technology for the rapid and accurate identification of microbial pathogens affecting livestock. Utilizing MALDI-TOF technology will improve the turnaround time for diagnostic results, particularly for economically significant diseases such as bovine mastitis. Such enhancement will support the VMTRC Milk Quality Laboratory (MQL) in processing the approximately 15,000 milk samples received per year, facilitating better disease management and control strategies for dairy herds in California and across the U.S. Additionally, MALDI-TOF will be used to enhance our surveillance capabilities for livestock and foodborne pathogens, allowing for more efficient tracking and monitoring of these organisms. This aim aligns with our mission to control and prevent disease outbreaks in herds and to ensure food safety.2. Advance Research on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR): The project will utilize MALDI-TOF technology to detect antimicrobial resistance in bacteria and fungi accurately. This capability will support our antimicrobial resistance research, which requires processing thousands of isolates to monitor changes in AMR and to identify risk factors for increasing resistance. MALDI-TOF will enable more extensive and practical AMR studies by reducing the cost and time associated with bacterial identification. Another key aim is to expand and validate the Biotyper Main Spectra reference library to include more microbial organisms and characteristics. This expansion will improve the accuracy of pathogen identification and support both fundamental and applied research in microbial taxonomy and disease management.3.Integrate MALDI-TOF Technology into Veterinary Education: The project will incorporate MALDI-TOF technology into existing and new courses at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. By providing hands-on training in advanced microbial identification techniques, we aim to prepare students for veterinary diagnostics and research careers. Courses such as "Advanced Microbial Identification" and "Veterinary Diagnostic Techniques" will be enhanced to include practical experience with MALDI-TOF.Through these goals, the project will harness the advantages of MALDI-TOF technology to address critical challenges in veterinary medicine, improve our research capabilities, and enhance the training and education of future veterinary professionals.
Project Methods
The MALDI-TOF MS project will be conducted in the Milk Quality Laboratory at VMTRC, Tulare, California, with a planned acquisition, delivery, and installation timeline of approximately 4-5 months. This includes a 10-week lead time from the manufacturer, Bruker, and a two-day on-site training session. Upon installation, the MALDI-TOF MS will be calibrated and validated to ensure optimal performance for microbial identification.The core scientific method involves the preparation and analysis of microbial samples using the MALDI-TOF MS. Bacterial colonies isolated from milk and environmental samples will be processed to generate mass spectral fingerprints. These profiles will be matched against an existing database of microbial spectra to identify and differentiate species and subspecies accurately. This method offers significant advantages over traditional techniques, which are often labor-intensive and time-consuming, by providing rapid results with high accuracy.In addition to routine microbial identification, the project will focus on fundamental research, including the expansion of the microbial reference library. New microbial species and subspecies, particularly those significant in veterinary medicine like Mycoplasma spp., will be added to the library. This process involves collecting new samples, validating their identities through comparison with conventional methods and sequencing, and updating the library accordingly. This expansion will enhance the MALDI-TOF MS's utility and accuracy in identifying a broader range of pathogens.The project will also advance research on antimicrobial resistance (AMR). MALDI-TOF MS will be used to detect resistance patterns in bacterial isolates, correlating these with known resistance profiles to improve the detection and monitoring of AMR. The technology's rapid analysis capabilities will reduce costs and time associated with traditional resistance detection methods.Educational and outreach efforts are integral to the project. MALDI-TOF MS will be incorporated into UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine courses such as "Advanced Microbial Identification" and "Veterinary Diagnostic Techniques," providing students with practical experience. Additionally, workshops and training sessions will be conducted for veterinary professionals, researchers, and students to demonstrate the technology's benefits and applications. Outreach programs will further extend the technology's impact by showcasing its advantages to stakeholders and collaborators within the UC ANR network.The project's success will be evaluated through several key metrics. Milestones include the successful installation and training completion, the expansion and validation of the microbial reference library, and achieving targeted benchmarks for processing time and cost savings. Quantitative indicators such as identification accuracy rates, turnaround time, and cost savings will be closely monitored. Impact will be assessed through educational outcomes, research productivity, and stakeholder feedback, ensuring that the MALDI-TOF MS technology effectively advances scientific knowledge and benefits the target audience.?