Open AccessHyperproduction of TEM‐1 beta‐lactamase in clinical isolates of Escherichia coli serotype O15
Author(s) -
Shan Kevin,
Williams Helen,
King Anna,
Phillips Ian
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1990.tb04040.x
Subject(s) - escherichia coli , plasmid , microbiology and biotechnology , beta lactamase , serotype , ecori , ampicillin , clavulanic acid , biology , cephalosporin , restriction enzyme , virology , dna , gene , antibiotics , amoxicillin , genetics
During an outbreak of infection with ampicillin‐resistant, TEM‐1 β‐lactamase‐producing Escherichia coli serotype O15, some strains were noted to differ from the majority in that they showed reduced susceptibility to amoxycillin/clavulanic acid (Augmentin), ureidopenicillins and first generation cephalosporins and produced increased amounts of β‐lactamase. The plasmid from one such isolate was compared with that from an isolate that produced normal amounts of β‐lactamase. Restriction analysis with Eco RI revealed extra fragments in the plasmid from the β‐lactamase hyperproducer and use of DNA‐DNA hybridisation with a biotinylated TEM‐1 probe showed genetic rearrangement in the β‐lactamase hyperproducer so that the TEM gene appeared to be present in larger amounts and was located on a smaller fragment than for the plasmid from the strain that produced normal amounts of β‐lactamase.