Corona: A Virtual Mass Spectrometer for the Development of Real-Time Mass Spectrometry Software

Real-time mass spectrometry (RTMS), the process by which mass spectral data are analyzed during acquisition on a mass spectrometer, is an integral part of mass spectrometer development. Particularly within the fields of proteomics and metabolomics, RTMS has evolved to include the creation of third-party software that interfaces with a mass spectrometer to provide novel acquisition methodologies, such as applications that use the IAPI from Thermo Fisher Scientific. Developing and testing RTMS applications with the use of a mass spectrometer is a slow and expensive process that creates a bottleneck in the laboratory. Here, we present Corona, a virtual mass spectrometer for use in RTMS application development independent of a mass spectrometer. RTMS applications developed with IAPI connect to Corona seamlessly and operate exactly the same as if connected to a physical instrument. In this manner, it is possible to rapidly create and test RTMS applications prior to deployment on a mass spectrometer.