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Moussa J, Gargallo-Viola D, Thomsen LE. A novel high-throughput screening method for identifying compounds that inhibit plasmid conjugation. MethodsX 2024; 12:102740. [PMID: 38737486 PMCID: PMC11087957 DOI: 10.1016/j.mex.2024.102740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024] Open
Abstract
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 Escherichia coli strains as donor and recipient, we screened 3500 compounds from a library provided by ABAC Therapeutics. Each 96 -well plate was loaded with 88 different compounds and bacterial cultures. Every plate also included negative and positive controls of conjugation. After an hour, cultures from wells were spotted on agar plates and assessed visually. Compounds that showed a visible effect on conjugation were retested. Six compounds targeting conjugation were found, showing promise for further analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Moussa
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 1870 Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | | | - Line Elnif Thomsen
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 1870 Frederiksberg, Denmark
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Moussa J, Nassour E, Jisr T, El Chaar M, Tokajian S. Characterization of blaNDM-19-producing IncX3 plasmid isolated from carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli and Klebsiellapneumoniae. Heliyon 2024; 10:e29642. [PMID: 38655329 PMCID: PMC11036045 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e29642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
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 blaNDM-19 in Lebanon, recovered from three Escherichia coli belonging to ST167 and one Klebsiella pneumoniae 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 blaNDM-19, 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 K. pneumoniae reported in China. Our findings also revealed the route mediating resistance transmission, the IncX3 dissemination among Enterobacterales, and the NDM-19 genetic environment. We showed that mobile elements contributed to the variability of IncX3 genomic environment and highlighted that clonal dissemination in healthcare settings facilitated the spread of resistance determinants. Antimicrobial stewardship programs implemented in hospitals should be coupled with genomic surveillance to better understand the mechanisms mediating the mobilization of resistance determinants among nosocomial pathogens and their subsequent clonal dissemination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Moussa
- Department of Natural Sciences, Lebanese American University, P.O. Box 36, Byblos, Lebanon
| | - Elie Nassour
- Department of Natural Sciences, Lebanese American University, P.O. Box 36, Byblos, Lebanon
| | - Tamima Jisr
- Clinical Laboratory Department, Makassed General Hospital, P.O.Box 11-6301, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Mira El Chaar
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Balamand, P.O. Box 55251, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Sima Tokajian
- Department of Natural Sciences, Lebanese American University, P.O. Box 36, Byblos, Lebanon
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Moussa J, Nassour E, Tahan E, El Chaar M, Jisr T, Tokajian S. Carbapenem resistance determinants and their transmissibility among clinically isolated Enterobacterales in Lebanon. J Infect Public Health 2023; 16:1947-1953. [PMID: 37871361 DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2023.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023] Open
Abstract
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. Resistance mechanisms and transferability of plasmids carrying carbapenemase-encoding genes were also determined in silico and through conjugative mating assays. RESULTS We detected 18 different β-lactamases, including four carbapenemases (blaNDM-1, blaNDM-5, blaNDM-7, blaOXA-48) on plasmids with different Inc groups. The combined results from PBRT and in silico replicon typing revealed 20 different replicons linked to plasmids ranging in size between 80 and 200 kb. The most prevalent Inc groups were IncFIB(K) and IncM. OXA-48, detected on 76-kb IncM1 conjugable plasmid, was the most common carbapenemase. We also detected other conjugative plasmids with different carbapenemases confirming the role of horizontal gene transfer in the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance genes. CONCLUSION Our findings verified the continuing spread of carbapenemases in Enterobacterales and revealed the types of mobile elements circulating in a hospital setting and contributing to the spread of resistance determinants. The occurrence and transmission of plasmids carrying carbapenemase-encoding genes call for strengthening active surveillance and prevention efforts to control antimicrobial resistance dissemination in healthcare settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Moussa
- Department of Natural Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences, Lebanese American University, Byblos 1401, Lebanon
| | - Elie Nassour
- Department of Natural Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences, Lebanese American University, Byblos 1401, Lebanon
| | - Elio Tahan
- Department of Natural Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences, Lebanese American University, Byblos 1401, Lebanon
| | - Mira El Chaar
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Balamand, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Tamima Jisr
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Makassed General Hospital, Lebanon
| | - Sima Tokajian
- Department of Natural Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences, Lebanese American University, Byblos 1401, Lebanon.
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Moussa J, Abboud E, Tokajian S. The dissemination of antimicrobial resistance determinants in surface water sources in lebanon. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2021; 97:6332278. [PMID: 34329434 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiab113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
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. Ninety-one isolates were recovered by incubating at 37°C on Blood and MacConkey agar out of which 25 were multi-drug resistant (MDR) and accordingly were further characterized. Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae were the most common identified MDR isolates. Conjugation assays coupled with in silico plasmid analysis were performed and validated using PCR-based replicon typing (PBRT) to identify and confirm incompatibility groups and the localization of β-lactamase encoding genes. E. coli EC23 carried a blaNDM-5 gene on a conjugative, multireplicon plasmid, while blaCTX-M-15 and blaTEM-1B were detected in the majority of the MDR isolates. Different sequence types (STs)were identified including the highly virulent E. coli ST131. Our results showed a common occurrence of bacterial contaminants in surface water and an increase in the risk for the dissemination of resistance determinants exacerbated with the ongoing intensified population mobility in Lebanon and the widespread lack of wastewater treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Moussa
- Department of Natural Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences, Lebanese American University, Byblos, 1401, Lebanon
| | - Edmond Abboud
- Laboratory department, the Middle East Institute of Health University Center, Bsalim, Lebanon
| | - Sima Tokajian
- Department of Natural Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences, Lebanese American University, Byblos, 1401, Lebanon
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Moussa J, Panossian B, Nassour E, Salloum T, Abboud E, Tokajian S. Detailed characterization of an IncFII plasmid carrying blaOXA-48 from Lebanon. J Antimicrob Chemother 2021; 75:2462-2465. [PMID: 32417901 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkaa181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2019] [Revised: 03/05/2020] [Accepted: 04/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
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). RESULTS The plasmid recovered from a clinical Escherichia coli isolate was positive for blaOXA-48, which was located within the Tn6237 composite transposon. Primers targeting junctions between the IncF fragment and Tn6237 for the rapid identification of pLAU-OXA48-like plasmids were designed. CONCLUSIONS To our knowledge, this is the first report showing the complete sequence of an IncFII plasmid carrying blaOXA-48 within Tn6237 using hybrid assembly of long- and short-read sequencing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Moussa
- Department of Natural Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences, Lebanese American University, Byblos 1401, Lebanon
| | - Balig Panossian
- Department of Natural Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences, Lebanese American University, Byblos 1401, Lebanon
| | - Elie Nassour
- Department of Natural Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences, Lebanese American University, Byblos 1401, Lebanon
| | - Tamara Salloum
- Department of Natural Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences, Lebanese American University, Byblos 1401, Lebanon
| | - Edmond Abboud
- Laboratory Department, The Middle East Institute of Health University Center, Bsalim, Lebanon
| | - Sima Tokajian
- Department of Natural Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences, Lebanese American University, Byblos 1401, Lebanon
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Bitar I, Moussa J, Abboud E, Hrabak J, Tokajian S. Integration of two pKPX-2-derived antibiotic resistance islands in the genome of an ESBL-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae ST3483 from Lebanon. J Glob Antimicrob Resist 2019; 18:257-259. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jgar.2019.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2019] [Revised: 06/05/2019] [Accepted: 06/06/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
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Tokajian S, Moghnieh R, Salloum T, Arabaghian H, Alousi S, Moussa J, Abboud E, Youssef S, Husni R. Extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli in wastewaters and refugee camp in Lebanon. Future Microbiol 2017; 13:81-95. [PMID: 29226702 DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2017-0093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
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 53.1% of isolates recovered from Al-Qaa refugee camp were positive for the tested resistant determinants compared with 49.1% from river effluents. All isolates carried aac(6)-1b and/or aac(3)-II; none carried armA, rmtB, ant(4')-Iia, aph(3')-Ia or carbapenemases. CTX-M-15, TEM-1, OXA-1, CMY-2 and SHV-12 were detected. Single and/or double substitutions were detected in GyrA and ParC. Phylogenetic group B2 and ST6470 were the most prevalent. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis revealed 19 XbaI patterns and 17 pulsotypes. CONCLUSION The introduction of novel resistance patterns into the wastewater network requires effective control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sima Tokajian
- Department of Natural Sciences, School of Arts & Sciences, Lebanese American University, Byblos, PO Box 36, Lebanon
| | - Rima Moghnieh
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Makassed General Hospital, Beirut, PO Box 11-6301, Lebanon
| | - Tamara Salloum
- Department of Natural Sciences, School of Arts & Sciences, Lebanese American University, Byblos, PO Box 36, Lebanon
| | - Harout Arabaghian
- Department of Natural Sciences, School of Arts & Sciences, Lebanese American University, Byblos, PO Box 36, Lebanon
| | - Sahar Alousi
- Department of Natural Sciences, School of Arts & Sciences, Lebanese American University, Byblos, PO Box 36, Lebanon
| | - Jennifer Moussa
- Department of Natural Sciences, School of Arts & Sciences, Lebanese American University, Byblos, PO Box 36, Lebanon
| | - Edmond Abboud
- Laboratory Department, The Middle East Institute of Health University Center, Bsalim, PO Box 60-387, Lebanon
| | - Souad Youssef
- Laboratory Department, The Middle East Institute of Health University Center, Bsalim, PO Box 60-387, Lebanon
| | - Rola Husni
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, LAU Medical Center-Rizk Hospital, Beirut, PO Box 11-3288, Lebanon
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Moussa J, Chamoreau LM, Boubekeur K, Amouri H, Rager MN, Grotjahn DB. Synthesis of the Electron-Poor Dicationic Arene Complex [Cp*Ir(η6-p-bis(difluoromethyl)benzene)][BF4]2 and Ring Attack by Hydroxide in Attempted Deprotonation: Synthesis, Structures, and C−H···F Hydrogen Bonding. Organometallics 2007. [DOI: 10.1021/om700760y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- J. Moussa
- Laboratoire de Chimie Inorganique et Matériaux Moléculaires UMR 7071-CNRS, Université Pierre et Marie Curie-Paris 6, 4 Place Jussieu, Case 42, 75252 Paris Cedex 05, France
| | - L.-M. Chamoreau
- Laboratoire de Chimie Inorganique et Matériaux Moléculaires UMR 7071-CNRS, Université Pierre et Marie Curie-Paris 6, 4 Place Jussieu, Case 42, 75252 Paris Cedex 05, France
| | - K. Boubekeur
- Laboratoire de Chimie Inorganique et Matériaux Moléculaires UMR 7071-CNRS, Université Pierre et Marie Curie-Paris 6, 4 Place Jussieu, Case 42, 75252 Paris Cedex 05, France
| | - H. Amouri
- Laboratoire de Chimie Inorganique et Matériaux Moléculaires UMR 7071-CNRS, Université Pierre et Marie Curie-Paris 6, 4 Place Jussieu, Case 42, 75252 Paris Cedex 05, France
| | - M. N. Rager
- NMR Services of Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Paris, 11 Rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 75231 Paris Cedex 05, France
| | - D. B. Grotjahn
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego State University, San Diego, California 92182-1030
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