Anti-β lactamase Antibody (15721) (15721-GRP)

The beta-lactam antibiotics (penicillins and cephalosporins) are the most frequently used antimicrobial agents. All of the beta-lactams are structurally related through the presence of a core beta-lactam ring. Bacterial resistance to beta-lactams continues to increase, primarily due to microbial production of beta-lactamases. Beta-lactamases catalyze the hydrolysis of the betalactam bond which destroys anti-bacterial activity. Bacteria the produce TEM- or SHV-type betalactamases have point mutations in structural genes that have extended the substrate specificity of these beta-lactamases. As a result, many of the beta-lactamase-producing Gram-negative bacteria have become multi-drug resistant. Beta-lactamase from Enterobacter cloacae is a serine beta-lactamase with substrate specificity for cephalosporins.