Coherent pipeline for biomarker discovery using mass spectrometry and bioinformatics.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Robust biomarkers are needed to improve microbial identification and diagnostics. Proteomics methods based on mass spectrometry can be used for the discovery of novel biomarkers through their high sensitivity and specificity. However, there has been a lack of a coherent pipeline connecting biomarker discovery with established approaches for evaluation and validation. We propose such a pipeline that uses in silico methods for refined biomarker discovery and confirmation.

Results

The pipeline has four main stages: Sample preparation, mass spectrometry analysis, database searching and biomarker validation. Using the pathogen Clostridium botulinum as a model, we show that the robustness of candidate biomarkers increases with each stage of the pipeline. This is enhance

SUBMITTER: Al-Shahib A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2939613 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature