Anti-Microbial Drug Resistance (AMR) Research Group
Research Activities Report
Part 1: Short-Term Research Visit to Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS), UK
Project Title: Advanced Training in Next-Generation Sequencing (Nanopore P2solo) for Multidisciplinary Genomic Research
Background and Objectives
This short-term collaborative research visit was undertaken by Dr. Einas Osman. The visit was hosted by Dr. Leena Al-Hassan at the Centre for Infection and Antimicrobial Research, Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS), University of Sussex, United Kingdom.
The primary objective was to acquire comprehensive, hands-on training in Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) using the Oxford Nanopore Technologies P2solo whole-genome sequencing (WGS) platform. This training directly supports ongoing AMR research activities of the Biosciences Research Institute and will transform the research capabilities across multiple disciplines including infectious disease, cancer genomics, agricultural sciences, and environmental microbiology.
Training Activities and Skills Acquiredisit, the following key training activities and laboratory skills were acquired:
•Hands-on training on the Oxford Nanopore P2solo sequencing platform, including library preparation, sequencing run setup, and quality control.
•Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of clinical bacterial isolates — with a focus on antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) pathogens including Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter baumannii.
•Bioinformatics analysis of sequencing data: genome assembly, annotation, multilocus sequence typing (MLST), and AMR gene identification using tools such as Prokka, AMRFinderPlus, and Resfinder.
•Training on the use of phylogenetic analysis tools to track clonal spread and genomic epidemiology of resistant organisms.
•Networking with international AMR researchers and attending research seminars at BSMS.
•Discussion and planning of joint grant applications and future collaborative publications with the BSMS team.
Outcomes and Impact
This training visit will have a direct and long-term impact on the research capacity of the Biosciences Research Institute:
•Enabling next-generation research in infectious disease, food safety, and environmental microbiology.