Consequence of Cerulenin-Released Beta-Lactamase in Clinical Coliforms

Abstract
Periplasmic β-lactamase of certain clinical coliforms was released, without affecting cell viability, by perturbation of the outer membrane utilizing the fatty acid-mimicking antibiotic cerulenin. Release of such compartmentalized β-lactamase, at high population density, seems to provide an extra margin of resistance to the organisms against cephaloridine.