Beta-lactamase formation and resistance of Proteus morganii to various penicillins and cephalosporins

Induction of plasmid-mediated AmpC β-lactamase DHA-1 by piperacillin/tazobactam and other β-lactams in Enterobacteriaceae

Chromosomal AmpC β-lactamase induction by several types of β-lactams has been reported, but not enough data are available on DHA-1 β-lactamase, a plasmid-mediated AmpC β-lactamase. Therefore, we evaluated the DHA-1 β-lactamase induction by various antibiotics including piperacillin/tazobactam (PIP/TZB) in this study. Six strains (Enterobacter cloacae 2 strains, Citrobacter freundii 1 strain, Serratia marcescens 2 strain, and Morganella morganii 1 strain) possessing chromosomal inducible AmpC β-lactamase were used as controls. Four strains (Escherichia coli 2 strains, Klebsiella pneumoniae 1 strain, and C. koseri 1 strain) possessing DHA-1 β-lactamase were used. The β-lactamase activities were determined by a spectrophotometer using nitrocefin. β-lactamase induction by PIP, PIP/TZB was not observed in any strains and β-lactamase induction by third- and fourth-generation cephems was not observed in most strains. The induction ratios of the chromosomal AmpC β-lactamase in the reference group by PIP/TZB were <1.51, and those of the DHA-1 β-lactamase were <1.36, except for K. pneumoniae Rkp2004 (2.22). The β-lactamase induction by first- and second-generation cephems, flomoxef, and carbapenem differed in each strain. Cefmetazole (CMZ) strongly induced β-lactamase. This study demonstrated that the induction of DHA-1 β-lactamase was similar to that of chromosomal AmpC using various Enterobacteriaceae, although the induction of β-lactamase in both groups by PIP/TZB was low. We also reported that the induction of PIP/TZB, a β-lactamase inhibitor combination antibiotic, against various AmpC-producing Enterobacteriaceae, including DHA-1 producers, was low.

Carbenicillin-hydrolyzing penicillinases of Proteus mirabilis and the PSE-type penicillinases of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Three carbenicillin-hydrolyzing penicillinases were found in Proteus mirabilis strains, N-3, N-29, and GN79. The former two strains were isolated in 1978, but strain GN79 was one of our stock cultures isolated in 1965. These penicillinases closely resembled each other, and the PSE-1 and PSE-4 enzymes produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, in their substrate profiles and kinetic properties for hydrolyzing various beta-lactams. However, differences were found in their molecular weights and isoelectric points which ranged from 22,000 to 27,000 and from 6.0 to 6.9, respectively. The antiserum against the purified penicillinase of N-29 cross-reacted with the enzyme of N-3 and inhibited its activity by more than 80%. The antiserum also reacted with the PSE-1 and PSE-4 enzymes. The antiserum did not react with the penicillinase from strain GN79 and the PSE-2 and PSE-3 enzymes of P. aeruginosa. Enzyme production in N-3 and N-29 was mediated by R plasmids.

Purification and some properties of a cephalosporinase from Proteus vulgaris

The purified cephalosporinase from Proteus vulgaris hydrolyzed a variety of cephalosporins, including cefuroxime, at a high level; its activity was inhibited by clavulanic acid.

Purification and properties of a cephalosporinase from Enterobacter cloacae

A cephalosporin beta-lactamase (cephalosporinase) was extracted from Enterobacter cloacae GN7471 and purified by means of column chromatography. The resulting preparation gave a single protein band upon polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The enzyme's isoelectric point was 8.4, and its molecular weight was 44,000. The optimal pH was 8.5, and the optimal temperature was 40 degrees C. The enzyme hydrolyzed cephalosporins much more readily than penicillins. The enzyme activity was inhibited by iodine, semisynthetic penicillins, cefuroxime-type cephalosporins, and cephamycin derivatives. The enzymological properties of the purified enzyme were compared with those of beta-lactamases derived from other gram-negative enteric bacteria.

Effect of N-formimidoyl thienamycin (MK0787) on beta-lactamases and activity against beta-lactamase-producing strains

N-Formimidoyl thienamycin (MK0787) was active against beta-lactamase-producing strains and was an effective inhibitor of beta-lactamases extracted and purified from these strains except for plasmid-mediated penicillinase type IV.

Purification and biochemical properties of beta-lactamase produced by Proteus rettgeri

beta-Lactamase produced by Proteus rettgeri was found to be a typical cephalosporin beta-lactamase on the basis of its substrate hydrolysis profile. The enzyme activity was enhanced by prior treatment with an inducer. The enzyme was purified 166-fold by carboxymethyl-Sephadex column chromatography which indicated that its molecular weight was 42,000 +/- 2,000 and its isoelectric point was 8.7. Cefoperazone, cefoxitin, cefusulodin, cefmetazole, cefotaxime, 6059-S, FK749, YM-09330, carbenicillin, and cloxacillin were stable to this enzyme and possessed the function of competitive inhibition, as shown by their affinity for the beta-lactamase. The enzyme activity was inhibited by iodine, p-chloromerburibenzoate, and HG2+ ion. Clavulanic acid and CP-45899 displayed poor inhibitory activity toward this enzyme. The optimal pH was 8.0, and the optimal temperature was 50 degrees C.

Purification and some properties of beta-lactamases from Proteus rettgeri and Proteus inconstans

Two beta-lactamases were isolated from strains of Proteus species and purified, one from a strain of P. rettgeri and the other from a strain of P. inconstans. Each enzyme preparation gave a single protein band on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Molecular weights of P. rettgeri and P. inconstans enzymes were found to be 42,000 and 43,000, and their isoelectric points pH 8.7 and 8.6, respectively. The two enzymes presented typical cephalosporinase profiles. Cefmetazole (CS-1170) and cefoxitin, both cephamycin antibiotics, not only resisted hydrolysis by both of the enzymes, but also inhibited their activities competitively. Rabbit antiserum against purified P. rettgeri enzyme inhibited the activity of both purified and crude enzyme preparations from other strains of P. rettgeri so far tested. None of the beta-lactamases produced by other species of Proteus including P. inconstans was inhibited by the antiserum, thus showing that the purified cephalosporinase was of the species-specific types. The enzymological properties of the preparations were compared with those of beta-lactamases derived from other gram-negative enteric bacteria.

Purification and properties of a new beta-lactamase from Pseudomonas cepacia

An inducible beta-lactamase was purified from a beta-lactam antibiotic-resistant strain (GN11164) of Pseudomonas cepacia. The purified enzyme preparation gave a single protein band on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The specific enzyme activity for the hydrolysis of cephalothin as a substrate was 314.5 U/mg of protein. The optimal pH was about 8.0, and the optimal temperature was 45 degrees C. The isoelectric point was 9.3, and the molecular weight was estimated to be about 22,000 to 24,000 from gel filtration on a Sephadex G-200 column and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The enzyme activity was inhibited by iodine, p-chloromercuribenzoate, clavulanic acid, CP 45899, and cloxacillin. The beta-lactamase showed a unique substrate profile by hydrolyzing most of the cephalosporins, including cefuroxime, cefotaxime (HR 756), ampicillin, and penicillin G, at a high rate.

Purification and properties of beta-lactamase from Proteus morganii

The cephalosporin beta-lactamase was purified from a strain of Proteus morganii that showed resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics and produced the enzyme constitutively. The purified enzyme preparation gave a single protein band on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and consisted of a single polypeptide of molecular weight 38,000 to 40,000 from gel filtration of Sephadex G-100 and sodium dodecyl sulfate-acrylamide gel electrophoresis, its isoelectric point being pH 7.2 No cysteine residue was found in its amino acid composition. The specific activity was 190 mumol/min per mg of the purified enzyme protein for the hydrolysis of cephaloridine, the optimal pH was about 8.5 and the optimal temperature was 50 degrees C. Antibodies against the purified beta-lactamase inhibited not only the enzyme activity of the purified preparation, but also the enzyme activity of all of the other strains of P. morganii so far tested, regardless of whether the modes of their production were inducible or constitutive. None of the beta-lactamases produced by beta-lactam antibiotic-resistant strains of other species of Proteus was affected at all by the antibodies, thus showing that the purified cephalosporin beta-lactamase was of the species-specific type. The enzymological properties of the preparation have been compared with those of beta-lactamases derived from other gram-negative enteric bacteria.