Penicillin-binding proteins involved in high-level piperacillin resistance in Veillonella spp.
Open Access
- 12 June 2003
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy
- Vol. 52 (1) , 120-122
- https://doi.org/10.1093/jac/dkg297
Abstract
Objectives: To investigate high-level piperacillin resistance in Veillonella spp. in the absence of β-lactamase activity. Methods: Penicillin-binding protein (PBP) competition studies were conducted in Veillonella strains, with piperacillin MICs ranging from 0.5 to >128 mg/L and ampicillin MICs from 0.125 to 4 mg/L. Whole cell lysates were pre-incubated with piperacillin or ampicillin and post-labelled with [3H]benzylpenicillin. Results: PBP competition studies showed that the PBP with greatest affinity for penicillin and ampicillin had a molecular weight of ∼66 kDa, and exhibited reduced binding of piperacillin in resistant strains. Conclusions: This unusual focusing of different penicillins on one PBP may be the cause of selective mutants resulting from piperacillin MICs > 128 mg/L. In the absence of β-lactamases, alterations in penicillin-binding were seen to be major contributors to high-level piperacillin resistance development.Keywords
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