GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHY MASS-SPECTROMETRY METHODS FOR ANALYSIS OF SECONDARY ALCOHOLS PRESENT IN THE MYCOBACTERIUM-AVIUM COMPLEX

Secondary alcohols of mycobacteria belonging to the Mycobacterium avium complex were studied by gas chromatography and gas chromatography - mass spectrometry. After hydrolysis of the mycobacterial cells followed by extraction of the alcohols, trimethylsilyl, trifluoroacetyl, heptafluorobutyryl and pentafluorobenzoyl derivatives were formed. In the electron impact mode the trimethylsilyl derivative of 2-eicosanol was detected down to 10 pg, whereas in the negative ion chemical ionization mode the pentafluorobenzoyl derivative was detected at the 1 pg level. An alcohol not previously detected in mycobacteria was found in all of the studied strains; it was identified as 2-nonadecanol. The methods described may be useful for the detection of certain mycobacteria, including the M. avium complex, in clinical or environmental samples.