Abstract: An identification by mass spectrometry of a microorganism from among reference microorganisms represented by reference data sets includes: determining a set of data of the microorganism according to a spectrum; for each reference microorganism, calculating a distance between the determined and reference sets; and calculating a probability f(m) according to relation f ? ( m ) = pN ? ( m | ? , ? ) pN ? ( m | ? , ? ) + ( 1 - p ) ? N ? ( m | ? _ , ? _ ) where: m is the distance calculated for the reference microorganism; N(m|?,?) is the value, for m, of a random variable modeling the distance between a reference microorganism to be identified and the reference microorganism, when the microorganism is the reference microorganism; N(m|?,?) is the value, for m, of a random variable modeling the distance between a microorganism to be identified and the reference microorganism, when the microorganism is not the reference microorganism; and p is a scalar in the range fr

Abstract: A method of identifying a microorganism by mass spectrometry, including acquiring at least one mass spectrum of said microorganism; for each acquired mass spectrum: detecting peaks of the spectrum in a predetermined mass range; generating a list of peaks identifying at most one peak in each interval of a predetermined subdivision of the range of mass-to-charge ratios, the width of the intervals of the subdivision logarithmically increasing along with the mass-to-charge ratio, and analyzing the list(s) of peaks obtained according to a knowledge base of previously-identified microorganisms and/or types of microorganisms.

Abstract: An identification by mass spectrometry of a microorganism from among reference microorganisms represented by reference data sets includes: determining a set of data of the microorganism according to a spectrum; for each reference microorganism, calculating a distance between the determined and reference sets; and calculating a probability f(m) according to relation f ? ( m ) = pN ? ( m ? ? , ? ) pN ? ( m ? ? , ? ) + ( 1 - p ) ? N ? ( m ? ? _ , ? _ ) where: m is the distance calculated for the reference microorganism; N(m|?,?) is the value, for m, of a random variable modeling the distance between a reference microorganism to be identified and the reference microorganism, when the microorganism is the reference microorganism; N(m|?,?) is the value, for m, of a random variable modeling the distance between a microorganism to be identified and the reference microorganism, when the microorganism is not the reference microorganism; and p is a scalar in the range fr

Abstract: A method of identifying a microorganism by mass spectrometry, including acquiring at least one mass spectrum of said microorganism; for each acquired mass spectrum: detecting peaks of the spectrum in a predetermined mass range; generating a list of peaks identifying at most one peak in each interval of a predetermined subdivision of the range of mass-to-charge ratios, the width of the intervals of the subdivision logarithmically increasing along with the mass-to-charge ratio, and analyzing the list(s) of peaks obtained according to a knowledge base of previously-identified microorganisms and/or types of microorganisms.

Abstract: An imaging system for generating images of biological samples having a surface, the system comprising: a sample support for supporting a biological sample in use; a plurality of illumination sources, the plurality of illumination sources being arranged around the sample support and each adapted to illuminate the biological sample, in use, from a different direction; an image capture device for capturing illumination which has impinged on the biological sample to thereby form an image of the sample; wherein at least one of the illumination sources direction is not perpendicular to the surface of the sample.

Abstract: A method for enhancing an image of a biological sample, which biological sample has been grown in a vessel on a culture medium.

Abstract: A method of identifying a microorganism by mass spectrometry, including acquiring at least one mass spectrum of said microorganism; for each acquired mass spectrum: detecting peaks of the spectrum in a predetermined mass range; generating a list of peaks identifying at most one peak in each interval of a predetermined subdivision of the range of mass-to-charge ratios, the width of the intervals of the subdivision logarithmically increasing along with the mass-to-charge ratio, and analyzing the list(s) of peaks obtained according to a knowledge base of previously-identified microorganisms and/or types of microorganisms.

Abstract: An identification by mass spectrometry of a microorganism from among reference microorganisms represented by reference data sets includes: determining a set of data of the microorganism according to a spectrum; for each reference microorganism, calculating a distance between the determined and reference sets; and calculating a probability f(m) according to relation f ? ( m ) = pN ? ( m ? ? , ? ) pN ? ( m ? ? , ? ) + ( 1 - p ) ? N ? ( m ? ? _ , ? _ ) where: m is the distance calculated for the reference microorganism; N(m|?,?) is the value, for m, of a random variable modeling the distance between a reference microorganism to be identified and the reference microorganism, when the microorganism is the reference microorganism; N(m| ?, ?) is the value, for m, of a random variable modeling the distance between a microorganism to be identified and the reference microorganism, when the microorganism is not the reference microorganism; and p is a scalar in the range

Abstract: An imaging system for generating images of biological samples having a surface, the system comprising: a sample support for supporting a biological sample in use; a plurality of illumination sources, the plurality of illumination sources being arranged around the sample support and each adapted to illuminate the biological sample, in use, from a different direction; an image capture device for capturing illumination which has impinged on the biological sample to thereby form an image of the sample; wherein at least one of the illumination sources direction is not perpendicular to the surface of the sample.

Abstract: A method for enhancing an image of a biological sample, which biological sample has been grown in a vessel on a culture medium.