Kivata MW, Mbuchi M, Eyase F, et al. - The development of antimicrobial resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC) to the antibiotics recommended for treatment has complicated treatment of gonorrhea. In the present study, researchers examined N. gonorrhoeae isolates recovered from Kenya between 2013 and 2018, in order to describe plasmid mediated resistance in these isolates. They extracted DNA from 36 sub-cultured GC isolates displaying varying drug resistance profiles. Two β-lactamase plasmid types of different origins (African and Asian) were detected; African β-lactamase plasmid (pDJ5) was predominant. A unique blaTEM-239 allele was identified in five of the PPNG (Penicillinase Producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae). This study unraveled blaTEM-239 and suggested association of high level penicillin resistance with the allele. However, the findings revealed that one isolate expressing TEM239 had an MIC indicating intermediate susceptibility to penicillin while four were resistant. Per these findings, plasmid borne blaTEM and tetM genes mediate high-level gonococcal penicillin and tetracycline resistance in the sampled Kenyan regions. While the dominant genotypes were the African TEM plasmid, TEM1 and American TetM, emergence of Asian TEM plasmid, a new TEM239 and Dutch TetM has been noted in the regions.