title: beta-Lactamases: protein evolution in real time.
abstract: The evolution and spread of bacteria resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics has progressed at an alarming rate. Bacteria may acquire resistance to a given drug by mutation of pre-existing genes or by the acquisition of new genes from other bacteria. One ongoing example of these mechanisms is the evolution of new variants of the TEM and SHV beta-lactamases with altered substrate specificity.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Microbiology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Petrosino
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cantu
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Palzkill
mesh_terms: D002384:Catalysis; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D016296:Mutagenesis; D018440:beta-Lactam Resistance; D001618:beta-Lactamases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C054882:beta-lactamase PIT-2; D001618:beta-Lactamases; C034413:beta-lactamase TEM-1