Integrative In Silico Analysis of Hypothetical Proteins from Stenotrophomonas maltophilia NCTC10958: Insights into Environmental Adaptation and Virulence Factors

Antimicrobial resistance has become one of the most significant challenges for the public health domain. The escalation of multidrug resistance worldwide, particularly among Gram-negative bacteria, is a global concern. Among these, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (S. maltophilia) is the most prevalent pathogen that affects immunocompromised patients, specifically those in intensive care units (ICUs). This pathogen exhibits resistance to a broad spectrum of antibiotics through mechanisms such as enzymatic degradation, efflux pumps, and biofilm formation. Although S. maltophilia is associated with few virulence factors, its pathogenicity is enhanced by a small number of potent determinants including hydrolytic enzymes and quorum sensing systems. The S. maltophilia pathogen has become a central focus study due to its increasing incidence in hospital environments, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to its resistance to treatment strategies. Understanding the involvement of virulence factors in bacterial pathogenicity in depth is essential for therapeutic developments. This study aimed to characterize 61 hypothetical proteins (HPs) from S. maltophilia NCTC10958. Functional annotations suggested potential involvement of these proteins in virulence mechanisms, environmental adaptation, and antibiotic resistance. The results predict several crucial virulence determinants and proteins that are essential in bacterial resistance and adaptation. These findings may aid the development of novel therapeutic strategies and the discovery of alternative drugs to combat infections caused by this multidrug-resistant pathogen.