Combination of MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry and Machine Learning for Rapid Antimicrobial Resistance Screening: The Case of spp.

Journal: Frontiers in microbiology
Published Date:

Abstract

While MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry (MS) is widely considered as the reference method for the rapid and inexpensive identification of microorganisms in routine laboratories, less attention has been addressed to its ability for detection of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Recently, some studies assessed its potential application together with machine learning for the detection of AMR in clinical pathogens. The scope of this study was to investigate MALDI-TOF MS protein mass spectra combined with a prediction approach as an AMR screening tool for relevant foodborne pathogens, such as and . A One-Health panel of 224 and 116 strains was phenotypically tested for seven antimicrobial resistances, i.e., ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, tetracycline, gentamycin, kanamycin, streptomycin, and ampicillin, independently, and were submitted, after an on- and off-plate protein extraction, to MALDI Biotyper analysis, which yielded one average spectra per isolate and type of extraction. Overall, high performance was observed for classifiers detecting susceptible as well as ciprofloxacin- and tetracycline-resistant isolates. A maximum sensitivity and a precision of 92.3 and 81.2%, respectively, were reached. No significant prediction performance differences were observed between on- and off-plate types of protein extractions. Finally, three putative AMR biomarkers for fluoroquinolones, tetracyclines, and aminoglycosides were identified during the current study. Combination of MALDI-TOF MS and machine learning could be an efficient and inexpensive tool to swiftly screen certain AMR in foodborne pathogens, which may enable a rapid initiation of a precise, targeted antibiotic treatment.

Authors

  • Maureen Feucherolles
    Environmental Research and Innovation (ERIN) Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, Belval, Luxembourg.
  • Morgane Nennig
    Laboratoire National de Santé, Epidemiology and Microbial Genomics, Dudelange, Luxembourg.
  • Sören L Becker
    Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Saarland University, Homburg, Germany.
  • Delphine Martiny
    National Reference Centre for Campylobacter, Laboratoire des Hôpitaux Universitaires de Bruxelles-Universitaire Laboratorium Brussel (LHUB-ULB), Brussels, Belgium.
  • Serge Losch
    Laboratoire de Médecine Vétérinaire de l'Etat, Dudelange, Luxembourg.
  • Christian Penny
    Environmental Research and Innovation (ERIN) Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, Belval, Luxembourg.
  • Henry-Michel Cauchie
    Environmental Research and Innovation (ERIN) Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, Belval, Luxembourg.
  • Catherine Ragimbeau
    Laboratoire National de Santé, Epidemiology and Microbial Genomics, Dudelange, Luxembourg.

Keywords

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