title: Diversity of the mechanisms of resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics.
abstract: The sensitivity of a bacterium to beta-lactam antibiotics depends upon the interplay between 3 independent factors: the sensitivity of the essential penicillin-binding enzyme(s), the quantity and properties of the beta-lactamase(s) and the diffusion barrier that the outer-membrane of Gram-negative bacteria can represent. Those three factors can be modified by mutations or by the horizontal transfer of genes or portions of genes.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'Enzymologie, Institut de Chimie (B6), Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Frère
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Joris
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Granier
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matagne
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jacob
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bourguignon-Bellefroid
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability / Q000187:drug effects; D004058:Diffusion / Q000187:drug effects; D004152:Dipeptidyl-Peptidases and Tripeptidyl-Peptidases / Q000378:metabolism; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D010403:Penicillin Resistance; D010406:Penicillins / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D001618:beta-Lactamases / Q000378:metabolism; D047090:beta-Lactams
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D010406:Penicillins; D047090:beta-Lactams; D004152:Dipeptidyl-Peptidases and Tripeptidyl-Peptidases; D001618:beta-Lactamases