CURRENT WORK
My research activities are primarily related to the control of infectious diseases by monitoring the emergence and spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria in hospital settings but also in environenmental areas, characterizing the associated resistance mechanisms and describing the ways of dissemination of these strains. I had the opportunity to work as the associate-director at the National Reference Center of resistance to antibiotics at the Institut Pasteur and I was continuously challenged by the high power of adaptation of bacteria to antibiotics internationally. My research achievements are highlighted by the discovery of a US Staphylococcus aureus strain dependent on vancomycin (antibiotic) for growth, a novel integron-associated GES variant in multidrug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, as well as the countrywide spread of carbapenemases of Ambler classes A, B, and D enzymes that confers resistance to carbapenems, antimicrobial options of last resort.
Since the development of antimicrobial resistance has been progressive and relentless worldwide, I am exploring the use of Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) to combat microbial challenges. Antibiotic resistance is indeed spreading due to the massive and undocumented use of antibiotics. In order to expand the antimicrobial armamentarium, researchers are therefore exploring new molecules. AMPs appear as very promising candidates. These small cationic peptides, which are essential part of innate immunity, have demonstrated direct antimicrobial activity against various bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. I am specifically investigating the mechanisms by which opportunistic bacteria infect humans and examining how AMPs produced by our own immune system can be used to control these infections.
Another part of my research is about the characterization of the intestinal mircobiota, a health determining system that has been implicated in a number of disorders including obesity, inflammatory bowel disease as well as necrotizing enterocolitis. The focus of my research is recently to compare the gut microbiota composition of healthy Emirati with normal weight to that of obese individuals and evaluate the effect of microbiota changes on metabolism among obese Emirati patients.
Since the type of feeding significantly affects intestinal colonization in newborns, I am also analyzing the composition of human milk of breastfeeding mothers and I am particularily investigating the influence of human milk oligosaccharides, a complex set of carbohydrates, on milk microbiota.
Plus, I am lately examining the potential for recycling organic debris through natural decomposition. This includes the biological processes that transform organic materials into compost. In that context, I initiated the Compost project in Fall 2017 on Zayed University Dubai campus. Different recipes of compost preparation are tested in 18 composting boxes. This project involves, every semester, the direct participation of students and faculty members from the College of Natural and Health Sciences.
All current research projects are funded internally by Zayed University or externally by grants allocated by the Lebanese Council for Scientific Research and Saint Joseph University (Lebanon), Air Liquide (France), and Maastricht University (The Netherlands). These projects benefit from national (UAE University, Dubai Hospital, Latifa Hospital, …) and international (Saint Joseph University in Lebanon, Institut Pasteur in France, Paris Descartes University in France, Maastricht University in The Netherlands) collaborations.
Resistance to Antibiotics in Aquatic and Marine environments in the UAE
One Health AMR Research Workshop,
27th February 2023
An oral presentation about antibiotic resistance in aquatic and marine environments in the UAE by Dr. Carole Ayoub Moubareck, was delivered during the One Health AMR Research Workshop, that took place between 27-28 February 2023 in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Please click on the slide image on the left to download full presentation PDF (17 slides).
Carbapenemases of Gram-negative pathogens in the era of COVID-19
21st Annual Laboratory Management and Medicine Congress, 26th January 2022
An oral presentation about infections associated to carbapenemase-producers in COVID-19 patients by Dr. Carole Ayoub Moubareck, was delivered during the 21st Annual Laboratory Management and Medicine Congress at Arab Health 2022.
Please click on the slide image on the left to download full presentation PDF (25 slides).
An important Biofluid, Human Milk
Innovation Week 2021, 25th February 2021
A presentation on human milk microbiota and oligosaccharides, including a research study in Dubai on the topic headed by Dr. Carole Ayoub Moubareck, was delivered virtually during the Zayed University Innovation Week 2021.
Please click on the slide image on the left to download full presentation (42 slides).
![Workshop poster.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/439795_91dac40d623946dea9212fda7b75602b~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_489,h_275,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Workshop%20poster.jpg)
Microbes and Oligosaccharides in Breast Milk: The Dubai Experience. - Workshop at the 6th Dubai International Nutrition Conference
Dubai, 22nd-24th October 2020
The educational objectives of this workshop were to recall breast milk as an important biofluid and elaborate its components, focus on Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) as a noteworthy milk constituent, and describe their benefits and properties. Also, the workshop discussed the human milk microbiome, and explained the possible correlations connecting it to HMOs. Finally, and to touch base on milk properties from our region, the workshop revealed recent evidence obtained from analysis of a panel of milk samples from Dubai mothers, both locals and expatriates.
Resistance to Carbapenem Antibiotics:
The Current Status in Dubai compared to the Middle East and Gulf Regions - Research Seminar
Zayed University, Dubai, 25th September 2019
The goal of the Seminar was to diffuse the results of the first investigation on carbapenem resistance in Dubai and involved collaborations with private hospitals and governmental hospitals.
Dr Najiba M. Abdulrazzaq, Head of the Infection Prevention and Control Central Committee at the Ministry of Health and Prevention was also in attendance.
It was under the patronage of the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention and is part of the objectives of the National Action Plan on Antimicrobial resistance formulated by the National Antimicrobial Resistance Committee in 2019.