TITLE:
Research on IncL/M, IncN, and IncX Plasmids in ESBL Escherichia coli Strains Isolated in Senegal
AUTHORS:
Babacar Ngom, Rokhaya Diagne, Serigne Fallou Wade, Maurice Dasylva, Médoune Gaye Sarr
KEYWORDS:
E. coli, ESBL, Plasmids, IncL/M, IncN, IncX
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Biosciences and Medicines,
Vol.13 No.11,
November
26,
2025
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Escherichia coli is a vertebrate intestinal commensal increasingly implicated in various intestinal and extraintestinal infections as an opportunistic pathogen. Beta-lactam antibiotics, the antibiotics of choice in the treatment of E. coli infections, are becoming increasingly ineffective. Indeed, the increase in acquired resistance, most often mediated by conjugative plasmids, considerably reduces the chances of successful antibiotic therapy. Study Objective: This work aimed to investigate the presence of IncL/M, IncN, and IncX conjugative plasmids in ESBL E. coli strains isolated in Senegal. Materials and Methods: The study involved 32 ESBL E. coli strains. After antibiogram and PCR characterization of the identified ESBL types, conjugation by transfer in solid and liquid media was performed to select the plasmids for the study. Subsequently, a Carattoli multiplex PCR was performed to search for IncL/M, IncN, and IncX plasmids in the transconjugant strains. Results: IncL/M and IncX plasmids were absent from the E. coli strains studied. Only the IncN plasmid, measuring 559 bp, was found in a single E. coli strain.