ResistoXplorer: a web-based tool for visual, statistical and exploratory data analysis of resistome data

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Bioinformatics
• Genomics

Background:

• Whole metagenomic sequencing identifies resistance genes in microbial communities.
• Existing pipelines for resistome data processing are complex and require expertise.
• Analyzing large, complex resistome datasets is a significant bottleneck in the field.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce ResistoXplorer, a user-friendly tool for comprehensive analysis of metagenomic resistome data.
• To integrate advanced statistics, visualization, and functional annotations for high-throughput analysis.
• To overcome computational and expertise hurdles in resistome data exploration.

Main Methods:

• ResistoXplorer integrates statistical and visualization advancements.
• It includes modules for composition, functional, and comparative analysis of resistome data.
• Network visual analytics are used to explore associations between resistance genes and microbial hosts.

Main Results:

• ResistoXplorer provides a user-friendly platform for analyzing resistome data.
• The tool facilitates high-throughput analysis of common outputs from metagenomic resistome studies.
• It enables integrative analysis of resistome and microbiome abundance profiles.

Conclusions:

• ResistoXplorer simplifies the exploration of complex resistome datasets.
• The tool enhances biological insights through intuitive visualization and analysis.
• It democratizes the analysis of antimicrobial resistance genes in microbial communities.