Development of a mobile-accessible virtual assistant for MALDI-TOF MS microbial identification guidance: Proof of concept
Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry has transformed microbial identification but poses challenges in interpreting results for unusual organisms and ambiguous cases. We developed MALDI-BOT, a Spanish-language virtual assistant leveraging natural la...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-09-01
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| Series: | The Microbe |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950194625002237 |
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| Summary: | Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry has transformed microbial identification but poses challenges in interpreting results for unusual organisms and ambiguous cases. We developed MALDI-BOT, a Spanish-language virtual assistant leveraging natural language processing (Gemini 1.5 Flash API) to provide instant access to evidence-based MALDI-TOF interpretation guidelines from Argentina’s National Network for Microbiological Identification by Mass Spectrometry (RENAEM). A six-week pilot study with 18 professionals across five laboratories demonstrated high usability (100 % rated interface as “easy” or “very easy”), significant time savings (80 % reduction in reliance on static documents) and robust support for interpreting rare organisms and ambiguous results. Freely accessible, MALDI-BOT represents an innovative approach to democratizing specialized microbiological knowledge in Spanish-speaking regions and offers a scalable model for AI-driven diagnostic tools in resource-limited settings. |
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| ISSN: | 2950-1946 |