A novel high-throughput screening method for identifying compounds that inhibit plasmid conjugation.

Plasmid conjugation is an important contributing factor to the spread of antibiotic resistance among bacteria, posing a significant global health threat. Our method introduces an innovative high-throughput screening approach to identify compounds that inhibit or reduce conjugation, addressing the need for new strategies against the spread of antimicrobial resistance. Using strains as donor and recipient, we screened 3500 compounds from a library provided by ABAC Therapeutics.

Characterization of -producing IncX3 plasmid isolated from carbapenem-resistant and .

The increase in the prevalence of carbapenem-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) is a major threat, with the New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (NDM) enzyme-producing CPEs being one of the major causative agents of healthcare settings infections. In this study, we characterized an IncX3 plasmid harboring in Lebanon, recovered from three belonging to ST167 and one belonging to ST16 isolated from a clinical setting Plasmid analysis using PBRT, Plasmid Finder, and PlasmidSPAdes showed that all four isolates carried a conjugative 47-kb plasmid having and was designated as pLAU-NDM19. We constructed a sequence-based maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree and compared pLAU-NDM19 to other representative IncX3 plasmids carrying NDM-variants and showed that it was closely linked to NDM-19 positive IncX3 plasmid from reported in China.

Carbapenem resistance determinants and their transmissibility among clinically isolated Enterobacterales in Lebanon.

Background: The occurrence of carbapenem-resistant bacterial infections has increased significantly over the years with Gram-negative bacteria exhibiting the broadest resistance range. In this study we aimed to investigate the genomic characteristics of clinical carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE).

Methods: Seventeen representative multi-drug resistant (MDR) isolates from a hospital setting showing high level of resistance to carbapenems (ertapenem, meropenem and imipenem) were chosen for further characterization through whole-genome sequencing.

The dissemination of antimicrobial resistance determinants in surface water sources in Lebanon.

The prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in surface water in Lebanon is a growing concern and understanding the mechanisms of the spread of resistance determinants is essential. We aimed at studying the occurrence of resistant bacteria and determinants in surface water sources in Lebanon and understanding their mobilization and transmission. Water samples were collected from five major rivers in Lebanon.

Detailed characterization of an IncFII plasmid carrying blaOXA-48 from Lebanon.

Background: The spread of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae is an important challenge and an increasing healthcare problem. OXA-48 is a class D carbapenemase that is usually localized on a conjugative plasmid belonging to the IncL incompatibility group.

Methods: In this study, we used a combination of short- and long-read WGS approaches and molecular typing techniques to characterize the genetic environment of the smallest reported 27 029 bp IncFII plasmid carrying blaOXA-48 (pLAU-OXA48).

Integration of two pKPX-2-derived antibiotic resistance islands in the genome of an ESBL-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae ST3483 from Lebanon.

Objectives: Contamination of fresh water with clinically important Gram-negative bacteria in Lebanon is being investigated in-depth, especially with evidence of dissemination into clinical settings. This study aimed to report the draft genome sequence of a Klebsiella pneumoniae strain with an integrated plasmid segment harbouring two antibiotic resistance islands (ARI). It is believed that this is the first report of plasmid antibiotic resistance islands integration in the genome of K.

Extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli in wastewaters and refugee camp in Lebanon.

Aim: To evaluate the effects of population influx of refugees on the prevalence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli in wastewater networks in Lebanon.

Materials & Methods: Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, multilocus sequence typing and antibiotic resistance genes typing were performed.

Results: 53.