title: Contribution of beta-lactamase production to the resistance of mycobacteria to beta-lactam antibiotics.
abstract: Mycobacterium fallax (M. fallax) is naturally sensitive to many beta-lactam antibiotics (MIC < 2 microg/ml) and devoid of beta-lactamase activity. In this paper, we show that the production of the beta-lactamase of Mycobacterium fortuitum by M. fallax significantly increased the MIC values for good substrates of the enzyme, whereas the potency of poor substrates or transient inactivators was not modified. The rates of diffusion of beta-lactams through the mycolic acid layer were low, but for all studied compounds the half-equilibration times were such that they would only marginally affect the MIC values in the absence of beta-lactamase production. These results emphasize the importance of enzymatic degradation as a major factor in the resistance of mycobacteria to penicillins.
authors.affiliation: Centre d'Ingénièrie des Proteines, Université de Liège, Institut deChimie, Belgium.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Quinting
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Reyrat
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Monnaie
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Amicosante
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pelicic
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gicquel
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Frère
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Galleni
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018274:Electroporation; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology*; D009170:Nontuberculous Mycobacteria / Q000201:enzymology; D010539:Permeability; D014169:Transformation, Bacterial; D018440:beta-Lactam Resistance; D001618:beta-Lactamases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D047090:beta-Lactams
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D047090:beta-Lactams; D001618:beta-Lactamases