Mass spectrometry imaging and its potential in food microbiology

• Published in: International journal of food microbiology Vol. 371; p. 109675
• Main Authors: Zou, Yuchen, Tang, Weiwei, Li, Bin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 16.06.2022; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Food; Food microbiology; Geographical distribution; Mass spectrometry; Mass spectrometry imaging; Mass spectroscopy; Microbial interactions; Microbial MSI; Microbiology; Sample preparation; Spatial distribution; Spectroscopy; Technology; Microbial interactions; Food microbiology; Microbial MSI; Sample preparation; Mass spectrometry imaging
• ISSN: 0168-1605; 1879-3460
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2022.109675

Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) is a tool capable of simultaneously providing in situ untargeted chemical information as well as the spatial distribution of vast molecular species with high efficiency. Over decades, this technique has been proven quite solid in many life science disciplines including microbiology, yet few food microbiologists have been using it. This review briefly introduces MSI technology and covers some interesting topics regarding sample preparations. Successful applications of MSI in disciplines similar to food microbiology will be described and perspectives of how MSI could benefit food microbiology and how it may be challenged will be given. This review aims to draw more attention from food microbiologists to this developing technology and subsequently inspire more actual applications. •Overview of ionization sources of mass spectrometry imaging (MSI)•Review of microbial sample preparation methods in MSI experiments•Brief retrospect of applications of MSI in microbiological studies•Great potential of MSI approaches in food microbiology