Open AccessNovel GES/IBC extended‐spectrum β‐lactamase variants with carbapenemase activity in clinical enterobacteria
Author(s) -
Vourli Sofia,
Giakkoupi Panagiota,
Miriagou Vivi,
Tzelepi Eva,
Vatopoulos Alkiviadis C.,
Tzouvelekis Leonidas S.
Publication year - 2004
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.1574-6968.2004.tb09535.x
Subject(s) - integron , klebsiella pneumoniae , plasmid , escherichia coli , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , phenotype , gene , enterobacteriaceae , beta lactamase , genetics
Two clinical isolates, an Escherichia coli and a Klebsiella pneumoniae , with decreased susceptibility to carbapenems were studied. This phenotype was associated with production of novel GES/IBC variant β‐lactamases, designated GES‐3 (from E. coli ) and GES‐4 (from K. pneumoniae ), exhibiting carbapenemase activity. Both enzymes possessed Ser at Ambler's position 170 instead of Gly found in the β‐lactamases GES‐1 and IBC‐1 that lack carbapenemase activity. Additionally, position 104 in GES‐4 was occupied by a Lys as in IBC‐1. bla GES‐3 and bla GES‐4 occurred as gene cassettes in the variable regions of class 1 integrons carried by plasmids. The structure of the GES‐4‐encoding integron was similar to that of previously described IBC‐1 integrons. The GES‐3‐encoding integron was, most likely, truncated at the 3′ conserved segment.