Mass spectrometry imaging and its potential in food microbiology

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.

Automated summary

This article briefly introduces the technology of mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) and covers some interesting topics regarding sample preparations. It describes successful applications of MSI in disciplines similar to food microbiology and provides perspectives on how MSI could benefit food microbiology and the challenges it may face.