[en] The interplay between the three factors involved in the resistance of bacteria to beta-lactam antibiotics (sensitivity of target, synthesis of beta-lactamase, permeability barrier) is analysed and discussed on the basis of a simple kinetic model. The three factors do not act independently. In Gram-negative bacteria, the permeability barrier is only significant when the bacterial cell also produces a beta-lactamase. Special attention is devoted to cases where large periplasmic beta-lactamase concentrations prevail, a situation which has been observed in some clinical isolates.
Disciplines :
Biochemistry, biophysics & molecular biology
Author, co-author :
Frère, Jean-Marie ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences de la vie > Département des sciences de la vie
Joris, Bernard ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Centre d'ingénierie des protéines
Language :
English
Title :
Beta-Lactamases as the Main Resistance Factor to Penicillin-Related Antibiotics