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Contribution of β‐lactamase production to the resistance of mycobacteria to β‐lactam antibiotics
Author(s) -
Quinting Birgit,
Reyrat Jean-Marc,
Monnaie Didier,
Amicosante Gianfranco,
Pelicic Vladimir,
Gicquel Brigitte,
Frère Jean-Marie,
Galleni Moreno
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/s0014-5793(97)00286-x
Subject(s) - mycobacterium fortuitum , microbiology and biotechnology , antibiotics , mycobacterium , mycolic acid , enzyme , chemistry , potency , bacteria , biology , biochemistry , in vitro , genetics
Mycobacterium fallax ( M. fallax ) is naturally sensitive to many β‐lactam antibiotics (MIC<2 μg/ml) and devoid of β‐lactamase activity. In this paper, we show that the production of the β‐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 β‐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 β‐lactamase production. These results emphasize the importance of enzymatic degradation as a major factor in the resistance of mycobacteria to penicillins.