Featured Publications
The indelible toll of enteric pathogens: Prevalence, clinical characterization, and seasonal trends in patients with acute community-acquired diarrhea in disenfranchised communities
Osman M, Kassem I, Dabboussi F, Cummings K, Hamze M. The indelible toll of enteric pathogens: Prevalence, clinical characterization, and seasonal trends in patients with acute community-acquired diarrhea in disenfranchised communities. PLOS ONE 2023, 18: e0282844. PMID: 36913372, PMCID: PMC10010529, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0282844.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsEnteropathogenic E. coliEnteroaggregative Escherichia coliEnterotoxigenic E. coliEnteric pathogensCross-sectional community-based studyAcute community-acquired diarrheaMultivariable logistic regression modelCommon parasitic agentsCommunity-acquired diarrheaCommunity-based studyPublic health challengeLogistic regression modelsGII infectionsAcute diarrheaMiddle-income countriesGastrointestinal PanelDiarrheic patientsEnteric infectionsOverall prevalenceRisk factorsStool samplesClinical characterizationETEC infectionDiarrheal diseaseEtiologic agentRefugee settlements, sewage pollution, COVID-19 and the unfolding cholera outbreak in Lebanon
Kassem I, Osman M, Jaafar H, Omari K. Refugee settlements, sewage pollution, COVID-19 and the unfolding cholera outbreak in Lebanon. Journal Of Travel Medicine 2022, 29: taac142. PMID: 36434781, DOI: 10.1093/jtm/taac142.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchIntegrated Surveillance System for Controlling COVID-19 on a University Campus, 2020‒2021
Meredith G, Osman M, Cazer C, Cummings K, Hecht J, Madsen C, Santacrose L, Dubovi A, Clarkberg M, Johnson T, Fitzpatrick M, Parrilla L, Li Y, Francis L, Weisfuse I, Travis A, Jones A, Warnick L, Koretzky G. Integrated Surveillance System for Controlling COVID-19 on a University Campus, 2020‒2021. American Journal Of Public Health 2022, 112: 980-984. PMID: 35728024, PMCID: PMC9222446, DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2022.306838.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMachine-learning approaches prevent post-treatment resistance-gaining bacterial recurrences
Osman M, Mahieu R, Eveillard M. Machine-learning approaches prevent post-treatment resistance-gaining bacterial recurrences. Trends In Microbiology 2022, 30: 612-614. PMID: 35599112, DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2022.05.006.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchDrug-Resistant Tuberculosis, Lebanon, 2016 – 2017 - Volume 25, Number 3—March 2019 - Emerging Infectious Diseases journal - CDC
Achkar S, Demanche C, Osman M, Rafei R, Ismail M, Yaacoub H, Pinçon C, Duthoy S, De Matos F, Gaudin C, Trovato A, Cirillo D, Hamze M, Supply P. Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis, Lebanon, 2016 – 2017 - Volume 25, Number 3—March 2019 - Emerging Infectious Diseases journal - CDC. Emerging Infectious Diseases 2019, 25: 564-568. PMID: 30789124, PMCID: PMC6390733, DOI: 10.3201/eid2503.181375.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2024
Corrigendum: Identification of genes influencing the evolution of Escherichia coli ST372 in dogs and humans.
Elankumaran P, Browning G, Marenda M, Kidsley A, Osman M, Haenni M, Johnson J, Trott D, Reid C, Djordjevic S. Corrigendum: Identification of genes influencing the evolution of Escherichia coli ST372 in dogs and humans. Microbial Genomics 2024, 10 PMID: 39166982, PMCID: PMC11561579, DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.001286.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchSyndromic Surveillance Tracks COVID-19 Cases in University and County Settings: Retrospective Observational Study
Wass L, Hoare D, Smits G, Osman M, Zhang N, Klepack W, Parrilla L, Busche J, Clarkberg M, Basu S, Cazer C. Syndromic Surveillance Tracks COVID-19 Cases in University and County Settings: Retrospective Observational Study. JMIR Public Health And Surveillance 2024, 10: e54551. PMID: 38952000, PMCID: PMC11220726, DOI: 10.2196/54551.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCOVID-19-like illnessSyndromic surveillanceCounty Health DepartmentSARS-CoV-2 test positivityCounty settingsMiddle-income countriesLow-resource settingsCounty levelReport surveillance dataHealth departmentsTest positivity rateLinear regression modelsPositive test rateTesting ratesCOVID-19 casesSelf-reportSymptom reportingCOVID-19 riskCOVID-19 testingCOVID-19Negative binomial modelRetrospective observational studyTest positivityCOVID-19 surveillanceObservational studyEvaluation of SARS-CoV-2 anti-Spike antibody levels and breakthrough infection risk among vaccinated adults in North Lebanon
Nour D, Ismail M, Osman M, Rafei R, Kasir D, Dabboussi F, Colson P, Hamze M. Evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 anti-Spike antibody levels and breakthrough infection risk among vaccinated adults in North Lebanon. PLOS ONE 2024, 19: e0302579. PMID: 38722969, PMCID: PMC11081361, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302579.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsImmune responseAntibody titersAntibody levelsAnti-spike antibody levelsCharacteristics of immune responsesWaning immune responsesMultivariate logistic regression modelSARS-CoV-2 antibody titersLevel of antibody titerVaccinated patientsBNT162b2 vaccineUnivariate analysisLogistic regression modelsSputnik V vaccineBlood specimensPfizer-BioNTechVaccine doseImmune statusVaccinated adultsSARS-CoV-2InfectionNorth LebanonVaccineAstraZeneca vaccineTiters
2023
First report of the mobile colistin resistance gene, mcr-1.26, in multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli isolated from retail chicken meat
Kassem I, Osman M, Hassan J, Sulaiman A, Mann D, Esseili M, Naas T, Deng X. First report of the mobile colistin resistance gene, mcr-1.26, in multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli isolated from retail chicken meat. Journal Of Global Antimicrobial Resistance 2023, 34: 176-178. PMID: 37429544, DOI: 10.1016/j.jgar.2023.07.005.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMinimum inhibitory concentrationColistin resistanceColistin-resistant Escherichia coliKirby-Bauer disk diffusionMultidrug-resistant Escherichia coliMDR E. coliPlasmid replicon typesWhole-genome sequencingSequence typesColistin resistance geneRetail chicken meatBroth microdilution methodMobile colistin resistance geneReplicon typesSusceptibility testingIncX4 plasmidsFirst reportMultidrug resistanceWhole-genome sequencing analysisDepth phenotypicInhibitory concentrationDisk diffusionMicrodilution methodGenomic epidemiologyAntimicrobial resistance genesPrevalence of Latent Tuberculosis Infection among Patients Undergoing Regular Hemodialysis in Disenfranchised Communities: A Multicenter Study during COVID-19 Pandemic
Ismail M, Zarriaa N, Osman M, Helfawi S, Kabbara N, Chatah A, Kamaleddine A, Alameddine R, Dabboussi F, Hamze M. Prevalence of Latent Tuberculosis Infection among Patients Undergoing Regular Hemodialysis in Disenfranchised Communities: A Multicenter Study during COVID-19 Pandemic. Medicina 2023, 59: 654. PMID: 37109612, PMCID: PMC10142838, DOI: 10.3390/medicina59040654.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLatent tuberculosis infectionMultivariable logistic regression analysisHD patientsLogistic regression analysisTuberculosis infectionDialysis unitsMulticenter cross-sectional studyQFT-Plus resultsActive tuberculosis diseaseQuantiFERON-TB GoldHospital dialysis unitRisk of mortalityTB control measuresCross-sectional studyRegression analysisCOVID-19 pandemicLow socioeconomic statusLTBI statusQFT-PlusRegular HDRegular hemodialysisElderly patientsLTBI prevalenceHemodialysis patientsPatient transmissionIdentification of genes influencing the evolution of Escherichia coli ST372 in dogs and humans
Elankumuran P, Browning G, Marenda M, Kidsley A, Osman M, Haenni M, Johnson J, Trott D, Reid C, Djordjevic S. Identification of genes influencing the evolution of Escherichia coli ST372 in dogs and humans. Microbial Genomics 2023, 9: mgen000930. PMID: 36752777, PMCID: PMC9997745, DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.000930.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPopulation structureIdentification of genesWhole genome sequencesPropanediol utilization (pdu) operonGenomic traitsAccessory genomeCanine sourcesBioinformatics analysisUtilization operonPhylogenetic clustersGlobal collectionDistinct populationsVirulence genesOperonGenesDominant hostSequence typesSequenceExtraintestinal infectionsPhylogenyCladeGenomeLineagesHumansTraitsBooster vaccination protection against SARS-CoV-2 infections in young adults during an Omicron BA.1-predominant period: A retrospective cohort study
Wan J, Cazer C, Clarkberg M, Henderson S, Lee S, Meredith G, Osman M, Shmoys D, Frazier P. Booster vaccination protection against SARS-CoV-2 infections in young adults during an Omicron BA.1-predominant period: A retrospective cohort study. PLOS Medicine 2023, 20: e1004153. PMID: 36626376, PMCID: PMC9876273, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1004153.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSARS-CoV-2 infectionInitial vaccination seriesPositive SARS-CoV-2 PCR testSARS-CoV-2 PCR testVaccination seriesBooster doseBooster vaccinationCohort studyStudy periodYoung adultsAcute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infectionSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infectionSyndrome coronavirus 2 infectionSevere coronavirus disease 2019Polymerase chain reaction testingCoronavirus 2 infectionRetrospective cohort studyPCR testMultivariable Poisson regressionSARS-CoV-2 variantsStatistical analysis planCoronavirus disease 2019Active surveillance approachSARS-CoV-2World Health Organization
2022
The impact of vaccination on the burden of invasive pneumococcal disease from a nationwide surveillance program in Lebanon: an unexpected increase in mortality driven by non-vaccine serotypes
Reslan L, Youssef N, Boutros C, Assaf-Casals A, Fayad D, Khafaja S, Akl F, Finianos M, Rizk A, Shaker R, Zaghlout A, Lteif M, Hafi B, Moumneh M, Feghali R, Ghanem S, Jisr T, Karayakoupoglou G, Naboulsi M, Hamze M, Samad S, Khoury E, Sarraf R, Osman M, Raad E, Amin H, Abadi I, Abdo H, Chedid M, Chamseddine F, Barakat A, Houmani M, Haddad A, Nour G, Mokhbat J, Daoud Z, El-Zaatari M, Sokhn E, Ghosn N, Ammar W, Hamadeh R, Matar G, Araj G, Dbaibo G. The impact of vaccination on the burden of invasive pneumococcal disease from a nationwide surveillance program in Lebanon: an unexpected increase in mortality driven by non-vaccine serotypes. Expert Review Of Vaccines 2022, 21: 1905-1921. PMID: 36342411, DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2022.2143349.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsInvasive pneumococcal diseaseNon-vaccine typesPneumococcal conjugate vaccinePCV13 eraPneumococcal diseaseBurden of IPDSurveillance programHigher valency vaccinesPost-PCV7 eraRecommendation of vaccinationNon-vaccine serotypesImpact of vaccinationNationwide surveillance programAntimicrobial resistance profilesPCV7 eraPCV7 serotypesConjugate vaccineSerotype distributionUnvaccinated populationAntimicrobial stewardshipMortality rateAge groupsResistance profilesStudy periodSignificant decreaseWhole Genome Analyses Accurately Identify Neisseria spp. and Limit Taxonomic Ambiguity
Khoder M, Osman M, Kassem I, Rafei R, Shahin A, Fournier P, Rolain J, Hamze M. Whole Genome Analyses Accurately Identify Neisseria spp. and Limit Taxonomic Ambiguity. International Journal Of Molecular Sciences 2022, 23: 13456. PMID: 36362240, PMCID: PMC9657967, DOI: 10.3390/ijms232113456.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDraft genomeComplete genome sequenceWhole-genome analysisNCBI GenBank databaseMatrix-assisted laser desorptionGenomic toolsPhylogenetic relationshipsTaxonomic ambiguityBacterial taxonomyGenome sequenceGenome analysisGenomic levelTaxonomic relationshipsTaxonomic toolGenBank databaseGenome sequencingGenomeLaser desorptionSpeciesNeisseria sppWGS analysisSppNeisseriaSequencingStrainsThe Role of Lebanon in the COVID-19 Butterfly Effect: The B.1.398 Example
Nour D, Rafei R, Lamarca A, de Almeida L, Osman M, Ismail M, Mallat H, Berry A, Burfin G, Semanas Q, Josset L, Hassan H, Dabboussi F, Lina B, Colson P, Vasconcelos A, Hamze M. The Role of Lebanon in the COVID-19 Butterfly Effect: The B.1.398 Example. Viruses 2022, 14: 1640. PMID: 36016262, PMCID: PMC9412248, DOI: 10.3390/v14081640.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchHigh rates of macrolide and fluoroquinolone resistance in human campylobacteriosis in the Middle East and North Africa
Dabbousi A, Osman M, Dabboussi F, Hamze M. High rates of macrolide and fluoroquinolone resistance in human campylobacteriosis in the Middle East and North Africa. Future Microbiology 2022, 17: 957-967. PMID: 35796073, DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2021-0302.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHuman campylobacteriosisRoutine stool cultureBacterial gastrointestinal infectionsClinical laboratoriesIncidence of campylobacteriosisPaucity of dataMain causative agentStool culturesGastrointestinal infectionsDiarrheal patientsMicrobiological diagnosisClinical importanceFluoroquinolone resistanceInfection prevalenceAntimicrobial resistanceZoonotic diseaseCausative agentCampylobacteriosisHigh rateAlarming ratePatientsCritical needEpidemiologyInfectionPrevalenceAn Optimized Electroporation Procedure for Genetic Transformation of Candida auris
Kasir D, Osman M, Hamze M, Bouchara J, Courdavault V, Papon N. An Optimized Electroporation Procedure for Genetic Transformation of Candida auris. Methods In Molecular Biology 2022, 2517: 89-94. PMID: 35674947, DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2417-3_7.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchA global snapshot on the prevalent macrolide-resistant emm types of Group A Streptococcus worldwide, their phenotypes and their resistance marker genotypes during the last two decades: A systematic review
Rafei R, Al Iaali R, Osman M, Dabboussi F, Hamze M. A global snapshot on the prevalent macrolide-resistant emm types of Group A Streptococcus worldwide, their phenotypes and their resistance marker genotypes during the last two decades: A systematic review. Infection Genetics And Evolution 2022, 99: 105258. PMID: 35219865, DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2022.105258.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsEmm typesMacrolide resistance phenotypeEmm clustersMacrolide resistanceSystematic reviewPeculiar epidemiological featuresPresent systematic reviewEmm pattern AGroup A StreptococcusResistance phenotypeClinical presentationMiddle-income countriesEpidemiological featuresHigh-income countriesExclusion criteriaMacrolide susceptibilityA StreptococcusEpidemiological surveillanceSustained surveillancePattern EPattern AIncome countriesPhenotypeSurveillanceEpidemiological dynamicsEmergence of a Neisseria flavescens clinical strain with a high level of third-generation cephalosporins resistance in Lebanon
Khoder M, Rafei R, Osman M, Kassem I, Shahin A, Hamze M, Rolain J. Emergence of a Neisseria flavescens clinical strain with a high level of third-generation cephalosporins resistance in Lebanon. Diagnostic Microbiology And Infectious Disease 2022, 103: 115660. PMID: 35306445, DOI: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2022.115660.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2021
Trends in the epidemiology of dermatophytosis in the Middle East and North Africa region
Osman M, Kasir D, Rafei R, Kassem I, Ismail M, Omari K, Dabboussi F, Cazer C, Papon N, Bouchara J, Hamze M. Trends in the epidemiology of dermatophytosis in the Middle East and North Africa region. International Journal Of Dermatology 2021, 61: 935-968. PMID: 34766622, DOI: 10.1111/ijd.15967.Peer-Reviewed Original Research