Shimadzu Corporation

Keio University

Toppan Printing Co., Ltd.

Riken Corporation

Koretsugu Ogata

Nobuhiro Hanafusa

Hiroto Tamura

Keisuke Shima

Masahiro Ikegami

Koji Tanimizu

Noriyuki Ojima

Tomoichi Takahashi

Ryuh Konoshita

Yudai Hotta

Akifumi Hosoda

Yusuke Nakamura

Takahiro Nishimoto

Masaki Kanai

Yoshihiro Yamada

Teruyo Kato

Shinji Funatsu

Akiko Kubo

Kazuteru Takahashi

Tasuku Murata

Makoto Suematsu

Atsushi Inami

Takeshi Uchida

Takushi Yamamoto

Yozo Ohnishi

Takanori Mochizuki

Masami Maekawa

Miyuki Morozumi

Megumi Sakuma

An analysis method includes: acquiring data corresponding to a mass spectrum obtained by subjecting a sample containing a microorganism to mass spectrometry; and acquiring information on Group Aof emm type 1, based on the presence or absence, or magnitude of a peak in a first range of m/z of 10930 or more to 10945 or less in the mass spectrum.

Analysis method, analytical method and microorganism identification method

A sample group forming sectionclassifies samples derived from microorganisms into groups according to empirical information showing the species or strain of each sample. A differential analysis sectionperforms a differential analysis using a peak matrix created based on the result of the grouping. An operator enters group rearrangement conditions concerning the drug resistance of microorganisms. Under the entered conditions, a sample group rearranging/rearrangement-cancelling sectionrearranges the already formed groups by selecting or merging groups using another kind of previously registered empirical information which shows the drug resistance of each group. The differential analysis sectionperforms a differential analysis using a peak matrix newly created based on the result of the rearrangement of the groups. Thus, differential analysis results concerning the resistance to different drugs can be sequentially acquired as the group rearrangement condition is successively changed.

Data analying device and program for data analysis

The compound list stored in identification information memory is populated with theoretical masses associated with a variety of compounds, as well as information such as the type of matrix capable of detecting said compound, potential neutral loss, etc. The adduct ion list, meanwhile, is populated with theoretical masses associated with a variety of adduct ions, as well as other information such as types of matrices capable of producing adducts, etc. When a user specifies a peak on the mass spectrum for a compound search, compound candidate search portion extracts combination candidates based on how well the measured m/z value of the specified peak matches the m/z value for combinations of compounds in the compound list and adduct ions in the adduct ion list, while the type of matrix used during measurement serves as a condition to narrow down the combinations. Display processing portion displays a list of the search results.

Mass spectrometry data processing device

A sample plate for a solid sample includes a plate-shaped main body and lid. The main body has a concave portion, in which a sample placement platform shaped like a cylinder protrudes from the central area of the bottom surface of the concave portion. The lid has a funnel-shaped opening bored at a position immediately above the concave portion. The diameter of the opening on the lower side is approximately the same as that of the sample placement platform. After a sample, e.g. a biological tissue section, is placed in the concave portion, the lid is closed. Then, the lower wall surface of the lid surrounding the opening presses the sample downward. The sample is thereby sandwiched between the lower wall surface and the sample placement platform. A solvent for ionization is injected into the opening whose lower side is thus closed by the sample.

Sample plate for PESI ion source and mass spectrometer using the same

The user specifies regions of interest (ROIs) such as a region where a large amount of compound to be identified is estimated to be included and a region where the compound is overlapped with another compound on one or more specific MS images, and specifies addition or subtraction of the ROIs. For each of the specified ROIs, an average MS/MS spectrum is calculated from MS/MS spectrum data at measurement points in the regions, and the average MS/MS spectra at the ROIs are subjected to addition or subtraction, to obtain an MS/MS spectrum. By addition between the ROIs, the intensity of peak derived from the target compound can be increased. By subtraction between the ROIs, a peak derived from the other compound overlapped with the target compound can be removed. When the MS/MS spectrum after addition or subtraction is subjected to library search for identification, a score indicating the similarity of the spectrum is higher than the conventional score, and the identification accuracy can be improved.

Imaging mass spectrometry data processing device and imaging mass spectrometry data processing method

An apparatus that identifies the type of a test cell based on a result obtained by performing mass spectrometry on the test cell includes a higher-level database, which contains mass lists that each list ion mass values of constituent components of a known cell, and a lower-level database, which contains partial mass lists that each list only strain-specific ion mass values out of the ion mass values. The higher-level database is first searched for a test mass list which is created from the result of the mass spectrometry performed on the test cell, and based on a result of the search, an organism species to be searched in the following search operation is determined. Mass values common to the organism species are subsequently deleted from the mass list for the test cell, and the mass list having undergone the deletion operation is used to search the lower-level database.

Cell identification device and program

After a sample such as a biomedical tissue section is attached to an electrically-conductive slide glass (S), the film layer of a matrix substance is appropriately formed by vapor deposition so as to cover the sample (S). The crystal of the matrix substance in the film layer is very fine and uniform. Subsequently, the slide glass on which the matrix film layer is formed is placed in a vaporized solvent atmosphere, and the solvent infiltrates into the matrix film layer (S). When the solvent sufficiently infiltrated is vaporized, a substance to be measured in the sample takes in the matrix and re-crystallized. Furthermore, the matrix film layer is formed again on the surface by the vapor deposition (S). The added matrix film layer absorbs excessive energy of a laser beam during MALDI, which suppresses the denaturation of the substance to be measured and the like, so that high detection sensitivity can be achieved while high spatial resolution is maintained.

Sample preparation method and sample preparation device for MALDI including depositing matrix substance on sample substrate in two steps

Disclosed herein is a reactor plate which prevents the entry of foreign matter from the outside and the pollution of a surrounding environment. A reactor plate () includes a reaction well (), a reaction well channel connected to the reaction well (), and reaction well air vent channels () and () connected to the reaction well (). The reaction well channel has a main channel (), a metering channel () branched off the main channel (), and an injection channel () of which one end is connected to the metering channel () and the other end is connected to the reaction well (). The main channel () and the reaction well air vent channel () can be hermetically sealed. The injection channel () is formed narrower than the metering channel () not so as to allow the passage of a liquid at a liquid introduction pressure applied to introduce the liquid into the main channel () and the metering channel () and at a purge pressure applied to purge the liquid from the main channel () but so as to allow the passage of the liquid at a pressure higher than the liquid introduction pressure and the purge pressure.

Reactor plate and reaction processing method

Upper space on the front surface side of a reaction plate, provided with at least a reaction container causing reaction in a sample and a reagent container containing a reagent used for reaction with the sample, is covered with an airtight cover. A dispensation tip () for transporting liquid on the reaction plate is arranged in such a way that the distal end side is located on the inside of the covered space and the proximal portion is located on the outside. In order to handle a reaction kit () supported movably in the perpendicular direction and in the in-plane direction with respect to the front surface of the reaction plate, a table () for attaching the reaction kit (), a drive unit () engaging with the proximal end of the dispensation tip () and driving the movement and the dispensation operation of the tip (), a detection unit () for optically detecting a reaction product by receiving light generated through interaction with the reaction product on the reaction plate or the light generated from the reaction product, and a control section for controlling at least the dispensation operation by the drive unit () and the detection operation by the detection unit () are provided.

Reaction kit treating equipment

It is intended to easily dispense a minute amount of nonvolatile liquid. In a preferred embodiment, in dispensing of mineral oil (nonvolatile liquid), dispensing is conducted in the condition that the amount of air contained in a tip () is small by aspirating a larger amount of mineral oil () than a single dispensing amount in the tip () of a nozzle ().

Method of dispensing nonvolatile liquid in reaction vessel and reaction vessel processing apparatus

Disclosed is a reaction kit for preventing the entry of foreign matter into a reaction plate from the outside and the pollution of a surrounding environment. The reaction kit includes: a reaction plate () having, on the top surface side thereof, a reaction container () for carrying out the reaction of a sample and a reagent container () containing a reagent used for the reaction of a sample and sealed with a film (); a dispensation tip () arranged on the top surface side of the reaction plate (); a cover () covering a space above the top surface of the reaction plate () and movably supporting the dispensation tip () so that a distal end thereof is located inside the space covered with the cover () and a proximal end thereof is located outside the space; and a sample container () for introducing a sample into the space covered with the cover () from the outside through a sealable opening () provided in a part of the cover ().

Reaction kit

Intrusion of foreign matters from the outside of a reaction container plate and environmental contamination onto the outside are prevented. The reaction container plate () comprises a container base () having a reaction container (), a channel base () having an introduction hole () above the reaction container () and arranged on the surface of the container base (), and a channel cover () arranged on the channel base () in order to form in cooperation with the surface of the channel base, an introduction channel () passing above the introduction hole (). The channel () is formed to be enclosed. The introduction hole () does not allow liquid to pass under an introduction pressure state in the channel () where the liquid is introduced into the channel () but allows the liquid in the channel () to pass to the reaction container () side under a pressurized state where the inside of the channel () is pressurized higher than the introduction pressure. The channel cover () is composed of a flexible member, and, when it is urged to the channel base () side after the liquid is introduced into the channel (), the inside of the channel () is brought into a pressurized state and the liquid is passed through the introduction hole () and injected into the reaction container ().

Reaction container plate and its reaction processing equipment

The reactor plate preferably includes a sealed reactor, a reactor flow channel connected to the reactor, a sample container constituted from a sealed container provided separately from the reactor, a sample container flow channel to be connected to the sample container, a syringe for sending a liquid, a switching valve for connecting the syringe to the reactor flow channel or the sample container flow channel, and a projecting flow channel connected to the end of the sample container flow channel located on the sample container side. The sample container has a penetrable portion through which the projecting flow channel can penetrate and which is provided to be opposed to the projecting flow channel and is located such that the projecting flow channel penetrating the penetrable portion is brought into contact with a liquid contained in the sample container. The sample container can be connected to the sample container flow channel.

Growing community of inventors

Kyoto, Japan

Koretsugu Ogata