###### Abstract  
Prolonged and excessive use of antibiotics has resulted in the development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which is considered an emerging global challenge that warrants a deeper understanding of the antibiotic-resistant gene elements (ARGEs/resistomes) involved in its rapid dissemination. Currently, advanced molecular methods such as high-throughput quantitative polymerase chain reaction (HT-qPCR) and shotgun metagenomic sequencing (SMS) are commonly applied for the surveillance and monitoring of AMR in the environment. Although both methods are considered complementary to each other, there are some appreciable differences that we wish to highlight in this communication. We compared both these approaches to map the ARGEs in the coastal sediments of Kuwait. The study area represents an excellent model as it receives recurrent emergency waste and other anthropogenic contaminants. The HT-qPCR identified about 100 ARGs, 5 integers, and 18 MGEs (total--122). These ARGs coded for resistance against the drug classes of beta-lactams > aminoglycoso > tetracycline, macrolide Imcosamide steprogram B (MLSB) > phenolic> trimethoprim, quinolone, and sulfonamide. The SMS picked a greater number of ARGs (402), plasmid sequences (1567), and integers (168). Based on the evidence, we feel the SMS is a better method to undertake ARG assessment to fulfil the WHO mandate of \"One Health Approach.\" This manuscript is a useful resource for environmental scientists involved in AMR monitoring. antimicrobial resistance; antibiotic resistance genes; plasmids; mobile genetic elements; next-generation sequencing; quantitative polymerase chain reaction Article  
A Comparative Assessment of High-Throughput Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction versus Shotgun Metagenomic Sequencing in Sediment Resistance Profiling  
[PERSON]  
1 Environment and Life Science Research Centre, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Jamal Abdul Nasser Street, Safat 13109, Kuwait; [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (W.A.-Z. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (A.S.)  
H.A.Al-Sarawi  
1 Environment and Life Science Research Centre, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Jamal Abdul Nasser Street, Safat 13109, Kuwait; [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (W.A.-Z. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (A.S.)  
Kishk  
1 Environment and Life Science Research Centre, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Jamal Abdul Nasser Street, Safat 13109, Kuwait; [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (W.A.-Z. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (A.S.)  
Kishk  
1 Environment and Life Science Research Centre, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Jamal Abdul Nasser Street, Safat 13109, Kuwait; [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (W.A.-Z. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (A.S.)  
H.A.Al-Sarawi  
1 Environment and Life Science Research Centre, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Jamal Abdul Nasser Street, Safat 13109, Kuwait; wzakii@kisredu. Antibiotics are commonly used to treat human and animal infections. Among these beta-lactams are the last choice drugs and are used to treat urinary, respiratory, and blood infections [7]. The bactericidal properties of its several subcategories including penicillin, cephalosporporins, carbapenem, amoxicillin, cefazolin, and meropenem are now being compromised due to the development of ARGs [8]. Some other bactericidal antibiotics aminoglycosoides, fluoroquinolones, and glycopeptides need to be investigated for respective ARGs. Numerous antibiotics possess bacteriostatic properties such as glycylcycline, tetracyclines, Incosamide, macrolides, oxazolidines, and sulfonamides [8]. There is a dire need to check for the ARGs against these antibiotic classes and the risk they pose to human, animal, and environmental subjects. Historically, antibiotic resistance monitoring has been practiced for the examination of targeted pathogens and the genes they carry mostly in clinics [9; 10; 11; 12; 13], agriculture [14; 15; 16], and water-treatment facilities [17; 18; 19]. The ARGs bearing ARBs from these situations are channelized into the nearby geographic locations that often become the point source of transmissible outbreaks [20; 21; 22].