ABSTRACT β-Lactamases, the major resistance determinant for β-lactam antibiotics in Gram-
negative bacteria, are ancient enzymes whose origins can be traced back millions of years …

β-Lactamases, the enzymes that hydrolyze β-lactam antibiotics, remain the greatest threat to
the usage of these agents. In this review, the mechanism of hydrolysis is discussed for both …

Two classification schemes for β-lactamases are currently in use. The molecular
classification is based on the amino acid sequence and divides β-lactamases into class A …

β-Lactamase evolution presents to the infectious disease community a major challenge in
the treatment of infections caused by multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria. Because …

Abstract β-Lactamases can be named on the basis of molecular characteristics or functional
properties. Molecular classes A, B, C, and D define an enzyme according to amino acid …

Bacterial resistance to β-lactam antibiotics and β-lactamase inhibitors is an ever increasing
problem that threatens the clinical utility of drugs that form the cornerstone of the antibiotic …

β-lactamases of Gram-negative bacteria are evolving dynamically. New developments
include the production of enzymes with novel substrate profiles, reduced susceptibility to β …

For medical biologists, sequencing has become a commonplace technique to support
diagnosis. Rapid changes in this field have led to the generation of large amounts of data …

Despite 70 years of clinical use, β-lactam antibiotics still remain at the forefront of
antimicrobial chemotherapy. The major challenge to these life-saving therapeutics is the …

Abstract β-Lactamases, major determinants of bacterial resistance to β-lactam antibiotics,
can be classified into specific molecular classes following identification of active-site amino …