Biomaterial Database

Contribution of beta-lactamases to bacterial resistance and mechanisms to inhibit beta-lactamases. 1985

H C Neu

Resistance of bacteria to beta-lactam antibiotics has become a serious problem in the past several decades. Virtually all Staphylococcus aureus, and many Hemophilus influenzae, Branhamella catarrhalis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Enterobacteriaceae, and Bacteroides species possess beta-lactamases that hydrolyze penicillins and cephalosporins. The most common plasmid-mediated beta-lactamase is the TEM enzyme (Richmond-Sykes type IIIa), which is present in Hemophilus, Neisseria, and Enterobacteriaceae. One technique to overcome bacterial resistance has been the development of beta-lactamase inhibitors. Clavulanic acid is a beta-lactamase inhibitor that inhibits the beta-lactamases of S. aureus, Hemophilus, Neisseria, Branhamella, Eschericia coli, Klebsiella, and Bacteroides. Clavulanate acts as a "suicide" inhibitor, forming a stable enzyme complex that binds to serine at the active site of the enzyme. Clavulanate readily crosses the outer cell wall of most Enterobacteriaceae to interact with beta-lactamases in the periplasmic space. Clavulanate does not inhibit beta-lactamases such as the Richmond-Sykes type I enzymes found in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter, and Citrobacter species, which are inducible enzymes that function primarily as cephalosporinases.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007700	Kinetics	The rate dynamics in chemical or physical systems.
D002621	Chemistry	A basic science concerned with the composition, structure, and properties of matter; and the reactions that occur between substances and the associated energy exchange.
D004352	Drug Resistance, Microbial	The ability of microorganisms, especially bacteria, to resist or to become tolerant to chemotherapeutic agents, antimicrobial agents, or antibiotics. This resistance may be acquired through gene mutation or foreign DNA in transmissible plasmids (R FACTORS).	Antibiotic Resistance,Antibiotic Resistance, Microbial,Antimicrobial Resistance, Drug,Antimicrobial Drug Resistance,Antimicrobial Drug Resistances,Antimicrobial Resistances, Drug,Drug Antimicrobial Resistance,Drug Antimicrobial Resistances,Drug Resistances, Microbial,Resistance, Antibiotic,Resistance, Drug Antimicrobial,Resistances, Drug Antimicrobial
D004790	Enzyme Induction	An increase in the rate of synthesis of an enzyme due to the presence of an inducer which acts to derepress the gene responsible for enzyme synthesis.	Induction, Enzyme
D006090	Gram-Negative Bacteria	Bacteria which lose crystal violet stain but are stained pink when treated by Gram's method.	Gram Negative Bacteria
D006094	Gram-Positive Bacteria	Bacteria which retain the crystal violet stain when treated by Gram's method.	Gram Positive Bacteria
D000900	Anti-Bacterial Agents	Substances that inhibit the growth or reproduction of BACTERIA.	Anti-Bacterial Agent,Anti-Bacterial Compound,Anti-Mycobacterial Agent,Antibacterial Agent,Antibiotics,Antimycobacterial Agent,Bacteriocidal Agent,Bacteriocide,Anti-Bacterial Compounds,Anti-Mycobacterial Agents,Antibacterial Agents,Antibiotic,Antimycobacterial Agents,Bacteriocidal Agents,Bacteriocides,Agent, Anti-Bacterial,Agent, Anti-Mycobacterial,Agent, Antibacterial,Agent, Antimycobacterial,Agent, Bacteriocidal,Agents, Anti-Bacterial,Agents, Anti-Mycobacterial,Agents, Antibacterial,Agents, Antimycobacterial,Agents, Bacteriocidal,Anti Bacterial Agent,Anti Bacterial Agents,Anti Bacterial Compound,Anti Bacterial Compounds,Anti Mycobacterial Agent,Anti Mycobacterial Agents,Compound, Anti-Bacterial,Compounds, Anti-Bacterial
D001419	Bacteria	One of the three domains of life (the others being Eukarya and ARCHAEA), also called Eubacteria. They are unicellular prokaryotic microorganisms which generally possess rigid cell walls, multiply by cell division, and exhibit three principal forms: round or coccal, rodlike or bacillary, and spiral or spirochetal. Bacteria can be classified by their response to OXYGEN: aerobic, anaerobic, or facultatively anaerobic; by the mode by which they obtain their energy: chemotrophy (via chemical reaction) or PHOTOTROPHY (via light reaction); for chemotrophs by their source of chemical energy: CHEMOLITHOTROPHY (from inorganic compounds) or chemoorganotrophy (from organic compounds); and by their source for CARBON; NITROGEN; etc.; HETEROTROPHY (from organic sources) or AUTOTROPHY (from CARBON DIOXIDE). They can also be classified by whether or not they stain (based on the structure of their CELL WALLS) with CRYSTAL VIOLET dye: gram-negative or gram-positive.	Eubacteria
D001618	beta-Lactamases	Enzymes found in many bacteria which catalyze the hydrolysis of the amide bond in the beta-lactam ring. Well known antibiotics destroyed by these enzymes are penicillins and cephalosporins.	beta-Lactamase,beta Lactamase,beta Lactamases
D047090	beta-Lactams	Four-membered cyclic AMIDES, best known for the PENICILLINS based on a bicyclo-thiazolidine, as well as the CEPHALOSPORINS based on a bicyclo-thiazine, and including monocyclic MONOBACTAMS. The BETA-LACTAMASES hydrolyze the beta lactam ring, accounting for BETA-LACTAM RESISTANCE of infective bacteria.	beta-Lactam,4-Thia-1-Azabicyclo(3.2.0)Heptanes,4-Thia-1-Azabicyclo(4.2.0)Octanes,beta Lactam,beta Lactams