Beta-Lactamase (8A5.A10) antibody

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 beta-lactam bond which destroys anti-bacterial activity. Bacteria the produce TEM- or SHV-type beta-lactamases have point mutations in structural genes that have extended the substrate specificity of these betalactamases. As a result, many of the beta-lactamase-producing Gram-negative bacteria have become multi-drug resistant.