fermo_core is a Python-based command line tool to process, analyze, and prioritize compounds from metabolomics data. While primarily intended to be the backend processing module of fermo_gui of the application FERMO, fermo_core can be used independently for large-scale data processing and analysis.

This README specifies the use of fermo_core as command line interface. For a more user-friendly version, see the FERMO online. Please also consult the Documentation.

• Installation
• Quick Start
• Usage
• Attribution
• Contributing

• Install python 3.11.x
• Create a virtual environment (e.g. venv, conda) and activate it
• Run pip install fermo_core
• Once installed, run as specified in Run with pip

• Install python 3.11.x
• Install hatch (e.g. with pipx install hatch)
• Download or clone the repository
• (Change into the fermo_core base directory if not already present)
• Run hatch -v env create
• Once installed, run as specified in Run with hatch

• Install conda (e.g. miniconda)
• Create a conda environment with conda create --name fermo_core python=3.11
• Activate the conda environment with conda activate fermo_core
• Download or clone the repository
• (Change into the fermo_core base directory if not already present)
• Run pip install -e .
• Once installed, run as specified in Run with conda

• fermo_core --parameters <your_parameter_file.json>

• hatch run fermo_core --parameters <your_parameter_file.json>

• python fermo_core/main.py --parameters <your_parameter_file.json>

fermo_core can be used both as a command line interface as well as a library.

All parameters and input data are specified in a parameters.json file be formatted following the schema specified in fermo_core/config/schema.json. See the example in example_data/case_study_parameters.json and/or consult the Documentation.

As minimum data input, fermo_core` requires a pre-processed peaktable summarizing the detected molecular features (no raw data). This peaktable must:

• Derive from liquid chromatography electrospray ionization (tandem) mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-(MS/)MS)
• Constitute of samples acquired at identical concentration/dilution and identical injection volume
• Be acquired using untargeted Data-dependent acquisition (DDA)
• Be of high resolution (ideally, <20 ppm mass deviation)
• Be in a single polarity (either positive or negative ion mode)

Optionally (but recommended), fermo_core also accepts the following file types:

• Mass fragmentation (MS/MS) accompanying the peak table
• Metadata on sample grouping
• Phenotype (bioactivity) data associated with the samples
• A spectral library
• An MS2Query results file
• An antiSMASH results folder

For more information on input and output files, their format, and their purpose, consult the Documentation.

fermo_core is an open source tool licensed under the MIT license (see LICENSE).

See FERMO online for information on citing fermo_core.

Mitja M. Zdouc zdoucmm@gmail.com

Contributions, whether filing an issue, making a pull request, or forking, are appreciated. Please see Contributing for more information on getting involved. Contributors agree to adhere to the specified Code of Conduct. For technical details, see the For Developers pages in the Documentation.