FDA Grand Rounds: A Modular Approach for Enhanced Plasmid Subtyping and AMR Gene Profiling of Plasmids
February 9, 2023
The FDA Grand Rounds is webcast every other month to highlight cutting-edge research underway across the agency and its impact on protecting and advancing public health. Each session features an FDA scientist presenting on a key public health challenge and how FDA is applying science to its regulatory activities.
Plasmids are a major factor in the spread of antimicrobial resistance genes. Current plasmid typing methods do not account for the great degree of genetic diversity associated with the recombination mechanisms that allow plasmids to acquire antimicrobial resistance genes. In this presentation we introduce an enhanced plasmid subtyping method that not only identifies the genetic elements exclusive to and indicative of a plasmid type, but also characterizes plasmids based on the DNA sequence and relative position of these genetic elements as they are rearranged through plasmid recombination mechanisms.
- Github repository of the plasmid typing method: https://github.com/LBHarrison/Lociq
- Discuss the research conducted at the FDA
- Explain how FDA science impacts public health
- Describe how plasmids can bypass the host restriction of bacterial strains.
- Define the limitations associated with current plasmid typing methods.
- Discuss how the sequence and relative position of genetic elements can be used to differentiate plasmids, inform the composition of hybrid plasmids and indicate the location of prior recombination events.
This activity is intended for physicians, pharmacists, nurses, and other scientists within the agency and external scientific communities.
Lecture 1 February 9, 2023
Time | Topic | Speaker |
---|---|---|
12:00 - 1:00 PM EST | A Modular Approach for Enhanced Plasmid Subtyping and AMR Gene Profiling of Plasmids | Lucas Harrison, PhD |


Physicians, pharmacists, nurses, and those claiming non-physician CME: participants must attest to their attendance and complete the final activity evaluation via the CE Portal (ceportal.fda.gov). For multi-day activities, participants must attest to their attendance and complete the faculty evaluation each day. Final activity evaluations must be completed within two weeks after the activity - no exceptions.
Attention Pharmacists and Pharmacy Techs: Failure to provide your correct NABP AND Date of Birth information, in the required format, may result in the loss of credit for this activity. NABP profile number should be the 6-7 digit profile number assigned by the CPE Monitor and your birth date should be in the MMDD format (e.g. 0721) Do not provide your pharmacy license number. Please click the "My Account" tab and then navigate to "Edit Contact Information" to verify that your information is correct.
Attendees have 14 days from the last day of the activity to log in, complete the required evaluation(s) and attest to your attendance to claim credit.Physicians and nurses may then view/print statement of credit. Pharmacists should log into the CPE monitor 8 weeks after the last session of the activity to obtain their CE credit.
Faculty
- Harrison, Lucas, PhD, Research Microbiologist, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Veterinary Medicine - nothing to disclose
Planning Committee
- Dinatale, Miriam, DO, Team Leader, Food and Drug Administration - nothing to disclose
- Pfundt, Tiffany, PharmD, Program Coordinator, FDA/CDER/OTBB - nothing to disclose
- Wheelock, Leslie, RN, MS, Director, OSPD, FDA, OC, OCS, OSPD - nothing to disclose
CE Consultation and Accreditation Team
- Bueide, Rachel E., MPhil, Training Specialist, FDA/CDER/OEP/DLOD - nothing to disclose
- Zawalick, Karen, CE Team Leader, FDA/CDER/OEP/DLOD - nothing to disclose
All relevant financial relationships have been mitigated.
Registration is complimentary; therefore refunds are not applicable.