Feature Table Filtering Logic

feature-table-filtering-logic

Summary

Implement and validate numeric range filtering on metabolomics feature tables with group-based inclusion/exclusion logic to retain features meeting specified fold-change thresholds. This skill applies parameterized filtering criteria to LC-MS peak intensity data, enabling hypothesis-driven feature prioritization in FERMO dashboard workflows.

When to use

When you have a quantitative feature table (peak intensities across samples) and need to isolate molecular features that show differential abundance between defined sample groups within a specified fold-change range. Use this skill after loading LC-MS(/MS) metabolomics data into FERMO and before applying higher-level annotation or statistical filters (e.g., phenotype association scoring).

When NOT to use

• Input is already a pre-filtered feature table without access to raw peak intensity values needed for fold-change recalculation.
• Sample grouping metadata is missing, incomplete, or cannot be reliably mapped to column names in the feature table.
• Fold-change thresholds are not biologically justified or have not been established a priori (avoid post-hoc threshold selection to prevent false discovery).

Inputs

• Quantitative feature table (CSV format: rows=features/compounds, columns=sample intensities)
• Group specification metadata (sample-to-group mapping with include/exclude criteria)
• Fold-change range parameters (minimum and maximum bounds, numeric)

Outputs

• Filtered feature table (subset of input rows meeting fold-change and group criteria)
• Filter validation report (row counts, fold-change distribution, group membership verification)

How to apply

Define the filter interface to accept minimum and maximum fold-change bounds (numeric range specification) and a group specification list (samples to include or exclude from intensity comparison). Implement fold-change calculation logic by comparing feature intensities (e.g., median or mean peak heights) across the specified groups. Apply the filter to the feature table by iterating rows, computing fold-change for each feature, and retaining only features that fall within the specified range AND satisfy the group criteria. Use pytest-based validation: verify that output row count matches the expected filtered set, confirm all retained features have fold-change values within bounds, and check that group inclusion/exclusion logic is correctly applied by inspecting sample membership in calculations.

Related tools

• pytest (Unit and integration testing framework for validating filter correctness, including row count assertions, fold-change threshold verification, and group logic validation)
• fermo_core (Underlying library providing metabolomics data structures and operations for fold-change calculation and feature table manipulation in FERMO workflows) — https://github.com/fermo-metabolomics/fermo_core

Evaluation signals

• Output row count equals expected filtered set size (computed by manual filtering of input table with same parameters)
• All retained features have fold-change values within [min_fc, max_fc] range; no features outside bounds remain in output
• Group inclusion/exclusion logic correctly applied: verify that fold-change calculations use only samples in the specified group subset and exclude all others
• Peak intensity values used in fold-change computation match source table; no data corruption or NaN propagation in calculations
• Pytest assertions pass: assert len(filtered_table) == expected_rows, assert all(min_fc <= fc_vals <= max_fc), group membership checks on sample indices

Limitations

• Filter implementation requires well-formed group metadata; missing or misaligned sample labels will cause incorrect group assignment and invalid fold-change calculations.
• Fold-change calculation method (e.g., median vs. mean intensity comparison, log2 vs. linear scale) must be specified a priori; different methods will yield different retention sets.
• Features with zero or near-zero intensity in one or both groups may produce undefined or extreme fold-change values (infinity, NaN); edge case handling (pseudocount addition, exclusion rules) must be predefined.
• No guidance provided in README on how to handle tied or borderline fold-change values (features exactly at min_fc or max_fc thresholds).

Evidence

• [other] Define the filter interface to accept minimum and maximum fold-change bounds and a group specification (include/exclude list).: "Define the filter interface to accept minimum and maximum fold-change bounds and a group specification (include/exclude list)."
• [other] Implement the fold-change calculation logic comparing feature intensities across specified groups.: "Implement the fold-change calculation logic comparing feature intensities across specified groups."
• [other] Apply the filter to a test feature table, retaining only features within the specified fold-change range and group criteria.: "Apply the filter to a test feature table, retaining only features within the specified fold-change range and group criteria."
• [other] Use pytest to validate filter correctness: verify output row count matches expected filtered set, check that all retained features meet the fold-change threshold, and confirm group inclusion/exclusion logic is correctly applied.: "Use pytest to validate filter correctness: verify output row count matches expected filtered set, check that all retained features meet the fold-change threshold, and confirm group"
• [readme] FERMO integrates metabolomics data with orthogonal data such as phenotype information for rapid, biochemometric, hypothesis-driven prioritization.: "FERMO integrates metabolomics data with orthogonal data such as phenotype information for rapid, biochemometric, hypothesis-driven prioritization."