Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40138273›Full record

ArticlePloS one2025

MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry discriminates drug-susceptible and -resistant strains in Mycobacterium abscessus.

Tran Duong Thai, Nut Nithimongkolchai, Benjawan Kaewseekhao, Janejira Samarnjit, Chutipapa Sukkasem, Lumyai Wonglakorn, Auttawit Sirichoat, Arnone Nithichanon, Kiatichai Faksri

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
  3. Review
  4. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Tran Duong ThaiDepartment of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
Nut NithimongkolchaiDepartment of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
Benjawan KaewseekhaoDepartment of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
Janejira SamarnjitDepartment of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
Chutipapa SukkasemClinical Laboratory Section, Srinagarind Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
Lumyai WonglakornClinical Laboratory Section, Srinagarind Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
Auttawit SirichoatDepartment of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.ORCID 0000-0001-7681-4295
Arnone NithichanonDepartment of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.ORCID 0000-0001-5617-8746
Kiatichai FaksriDepartment of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.ORCID 0000-0001-5022-4182

Funding

Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, ThailandNational Science, Research and Innovation Fund 4295682Research and Diagnostic Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases (RCEID)
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Mycobacterium abscessus (M. abscessus) infection is a significant public-health concern due to its resistance to multiple antibiotics and associated treatment challenges. There is a pressing need for a rapid and effective method capable of reliably identifying M. abscessus drug resistance. Our study aimed to investigate the capacity of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) to identify M. abscessus drug-resistant isolates, offering potential proteomic spectrum markers for detecting resistant strains in clinical diagnosis and treatment. With the aid of machine learning, particularly the decision-tree algorithm, predictive models demonstrated excellent performance with 100% sensitivity and specificity. Peaks at 4,062 Da, 7,518 Da, 8,359 Da and 2,493 Da were potential biomarkers that can distinguish between phenotypes resistant or susceptible to amikacin, linezolid, clarithromycin and cefoxitin, respectively. Besides diagnosing these phenotypes, the combination of machine learning and MALDI-TOF can identify patterns of resistance and susceptibility to various drugs in serially sampled isolates. In an analysis of nine serially collected samples from a single patient, MALDI-TOF could differentiate between M. abscessus strains resistant to three drugs-amikacin, linezolid and clarithromycin-and those completely susceptible to these drugs, based on distinct peak intensities. Furthermore, alterations in the patterns of amikacin and clarithromycin resistance/susceptibility influenced the MALDI-TOF spectra in serial isolates, whereas changes in susceptibility to linezolid did not affect the patterns. Hence, MALDI-TOF could be considered an efficient and dependable method for identifying M. abscessus drug resistance. This diagnostic tool has the potential to streamline the traditionally lengthy process of antimicrobial susceptibility testing while maintaining reliable results.

Indexed as

Anti-Bacterial AgentsDrug Resistance, BacterialMycobacterium abscessusMycobacterium Infections, NontuberculousSpectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-IonizationAmikacinClarithromycinHumansMachine LearningMicrobial Sensitivity TestsAmikacinAnti-Bacterial AgentsClarithromycin

Identifiers

PMID40138273
PMCPMC11940421

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.