Table 6.
MSI application in the research of complex microbial communities or symbionts.
| Imaging Sample | Ionization Method | Compound | Research Purpose | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beewolf | MALDI | Streptochlorin and eight piericidin derivatives | Beewolf–Streptomyces symbiosis | [133] |
| Leaf-cutting ant | MALDI | Valinomycin | Ecological role of microorganisms associated with leaf-cutting ants | [134] |
| Ant-derived Streptomyces spp. and Escovopsis spp. | MALDI | Actinomycins D, actinomycins X2, actinomycins X0β, elaiophylin, efomycin A, efomycin G, shearinines D, F and J | Chemistry-based microbial interactions in ant microbe symbiosis | [135] |
| Pseudonocardia on the surface of ants’ propleural plates | MALDI | Ergothioneine | Visualization of bacterial-derived compounds on the ant exoskeleton | [136] |
| Frog skin associated bacteria Pseudomonas cichorii | MALDI | Viscosin-like lipopeptides | Searching for antifungal compounds | [137] |
| Plant roots colonized by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens S499 | MALDI | Surfactins, iturins, fengycins | Investigation of plant–microbe interactions at the molecular level | [138] |
| Putterlickia verrucosa root | MALDI | Maytansine | Searching for the real producer of maytansine | [100] |
| Lichen | MALDI | Pyridone alkaloid, asperphenamate, alantolactone, mannitol, polysaccharide-containing mannitol, pheophorbide A, pheophytin A | Show the chemical diversity and distribution of the microbial community of a Peltigera lichen | [139] |
| Arabidopsis leaf-derived bacteria | MALDI | Streptocidin A and D, phosphobrevin, marthiapeptide A, macrobrevin | Antibiotic production potential of the Arabidopsis leaf microbiome | [77] |
| Root nodule | MALDI | Britacidins, tyrocidines | The research of specific metabolites from Brevibacillus brevis | [140] |
Note: MALDI: matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization.