Genomic and machine learning approaches to predict antimicrobial resistance in Stenotrophomonas maltophilia.

UNLABELLED: Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is a multidrug-resistant pathogen, which poses a major challenge to clinical management due to its increasing resistance to common antibiotics, such as levofloxacin (LEV) and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (SXT), and poor clinical response to treatment. There is an urgent need for rapid and reliable antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) methods to improve treatment outcomes. This study collected 441 S. maltophilia strains, performed whole-genome sequencing, and used machine learning to identify key resistance determinants for LEV and SXT, constructing predictive models for resistance phenotypes. The 441 S. maltophilia strains we collected show significant genomic diversity and representative lineage distribution. Machine learning identified key resistance markers for LEV and SXT, improving area under the curve values to 92.80% for LEV and 95.44% for SXT. Validation accuracies reached 94.87% for LEV and 96.27% for SXT. Mutations in parC, smeT, and gyrA were strongly associated with LEV resistance. The gene presence of sul1, sul2, and CEQ03_18740, as well as gene mutations in Gsh2, prmA, and gspD, were highly correlated with SXT resistance. These findings suggest that integrating genome-based markers can enhance the prediction of antimicrobial resistance, offering a robust method for clinical application. Genotypic AST can reliably predict resistance phenotypes, providing a promising alternative to traditional AST methods for S. maltophilia infections.

IMPORTANCE

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is an emerging multidrug-resistant pathogen, making treatment challenging and requiring more effective diagnostic methods. This study offers a novel approach by integrating whole-genome sequencing with machine learning to identify key resistance markers for levofloxacin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. The predictive models developed can reliably forecast antimicrobial resistance phenotypes, providing a faster and more accurate alternative to traditional susceptibility testing. This approach not only enhances clinical decision-making but also aids in the timely administration of appropriate therapies. By identifying specific genomic markers associated with resistance, this study lays the foundation for future development of personalized treatment strategies, addressing the growing concern of antibiotic resistance.