{
  "abstract": "Objectives\n\nThis study investigated the prevalence of AmpC beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae in clinical specimens collected in Lahore, Pakistan, and aimed to identify potential inhibitors targeting AmpC beta-lactamases.Methods\n\nA total of 17,500 clinical specimens were collected from June 2018 to June 2021 and analyzed for E. coli and K. pneumoniae. These isolates underwent phenotypic identification using microscopy and the API 20E kit. AmpC beta-lactamase production was initially screened using cefoxitin disk diffusion and inhibitor-based methods, while the presence of plasmid-borne AmpC genes (CIT, EBC, and DHA) was confirmed by PCR. Additionally, the study used computational drug discovery techniques to screen for oxadiazole, quinazolinone, and sulfonylurea derivatives as potential inhibitors of the AmpC protein.Results\n\nOur data showed high antibiotic resistance rates among E. coli and K. pneumoniae isolates: 74.5% were resistant to cefotaxime and ceftazidime, and 45% to cefoxitin. PCR testing revealed that the CIT gene was the most prevalent in both E. coli (65.4%) and K. pneumoniae (63%), while other genes (EBC and DHA) and combinations were also present (p < 0.005). Using computational drug discovery, several compound libraries were screened against the AmpC protein. Tolbutamide showed the most promising results, with strong binding affinity and favorable drug-like properties.Conclusion\n\nPlasmid-mediated AmpC beta-lactamase-producing E. coli and K. pneumoniae were highly prevalent, with the CIT genotype predominating among clinical isolates. Computational screening identified Tolbutamide as a promising lead compound, warranting further experimental validation before therapeutic application.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Institute of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics University of the Punjab Quaid-e-Azam Campus Lahore 54590 Pakistan pu.edu.pk.",
    "Department of Microbiology Faculty of Science and Technology University of Central Punjab Lahore 54000 Pakistan ucp.edu.pk.",
    "Department of Biotechnology Faculty of Science and Technology University of Central Punjab Lahore 54000 Pakistan ucp.edu.pk.",
    "Institute of Microbiology Government College University Faisalabad Pakistan gcu.edu.pk.",
    "Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery School of Medicine University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh 15232 Pennsylvania USA pitt.edu.",
    "Department of Clinical Pharmacy College of Pharmacy King Saud University Riyadh 11451 Saudi Arabia ksu.edu.sa."
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 10,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Muhammad Sarfraz",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-1200-8400"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Aatif Amin",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-5649-5554"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Muhammad Naveed",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-4333-8226"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Mehboob Ahmed",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-6363-9050"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Shahida Hasnain",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-5916-7759"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Saima Naz",
      "orcid": "0009-0008-9949-6419"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Mohsin Khurshid",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-3196-2857"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Mohsin Tassawar Cheema",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-4399-811X"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Samman Ikram",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-4009-9298"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5
      ],
      "name": "Ajaz Ahmad",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-6295-8685"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/2tspqafg8a0hk.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1155/cjid/1023166",
  "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13717588",
  "id": "2tspqafg8a0hk",
  "issns": [
    "1712-9532",
    "1918-1493"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42959740",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "heading",
      "Article"
    ],
    [
      "heading",
      "Research Article"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "1313|Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7224363378",
  "pdf_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13717588?pdf=render",
  "pmcid": "PMC13717588",
  "pmid": "42959740",
  "published": "2026-10-29",
  "publisher": "Wiley",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/2tspqafg8a0hk.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-31T12:21:46Z",
      "native_id": "MED:42959740",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42959740"
    },
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-02T12:21:53Z",
      "native_id": "PMC13717588",
      "source": "pmc",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1155/cjid/1023166"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:1313|Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria",
      "subfield": "general"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Plasmid-Mediated AmpC Detection in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae: In Vitro Prevalence and In Silico Inhibitor Design.",
  "title_text": "Plasmid-Mediated AmpC Detection in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae: In Vitro Prevalence and In Silico Inhibitor Design.",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-02T12:21:53Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/2tspqafg8a0hk",
  "venue": "The Canadian journal of infectious diseases & medical microbiology = Journal canadien des maladies infectieuses et de la microbiologie medicale",
  "versions": []
}