Under the patronage of the Dean of the College of Science for Women, Professor Dr. Sameera Naji Khdim , the Continuing Education Unit, in collaboration with the Department of Biology , organized a workshop entitled “Detection Methods for Efflux Pumps in Bacteria” on Monday, 16 February 2026, in the Guest Hall, with the attendance of a number of faculty members and staff.
The workshop was presented by Dr. Zeina Hashim Shehab and Dr. Sana Mohammed Habib. It addressed an important topic in the field of microbiology concerning bacterial mechanisms of resistance to antibiotics, particularly through efflux pumps, which function by expelling toxic substances and antimicrobial agents out of the cell, thereby reducing the effectiveness of treatment.
The workshop also reviewed the main classifications of efflux pumps, including MFS, RND, SMR, MATE, and ABC, with an explanation of their mechanisms of action and the dependence of some of them on ATP energy or the proton motive force. In addition, it highlighted their role in enhancing drug resistance in pathogenic bacteria and the challenges they pose in hospital-acquired infections.
Furthermore, the workshop discussed the most important laboratory methods used to detect the activity of these pumps. The session witnessed active engagement from the audience through questions and scientific discussions, which enriched the workshop’s themes and outcomes.
