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Updated: Jul 30, 2026
08:06
The Use of a β-lactamase-based Conductimetric Biosensor Assay to Detect Biomolecular Interactions
Published on: February 1, 2018
Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Klebsiella spp
1Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Kuwait University, Suleibikhat, Kuwait.
British Journal of Biomedical Science
|October 29, 2000
Summary
Extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) are enzymes that provide resistance to antibiotics. Mutations in beta-lactamase genes lead to ESBLs, which can spread via plasmids.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Molecular Biology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) are enzymes primarily associated with Klebsiella spp.
- These enzymes originate from mutations in genes for clavulanate-sensitive, plasmid-mediated beta-lactamases (e.g., TEM-1, TEM-2, SHV-1).
- Amino acid alterations in ESBLs enhance the hydrolysis of specific antibiotics like oxyimino-aminothiazolyl beta-lactams and aztreonam.
Purpose of the Study:
- To detail the mechanisms of ESBL resistance.
- To outline methods for detecting ESBLs.
- To describe the epidemiology and transmission of ESBLs.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of amino acid changes conferring enhanced hydrolysis.
- Description of enzyme hyperproduction and porin loss mechanisms.
- Discussion of detection methods including disc-approximation tests, Etest, Vitek, and Dade Microscan.
Main Results:
- ESBLs exhibit enhanced hydrolysis of specific beta-lactam antibiotics and aztreonam.
- Enzyme hyperproduction and porin loss contribute to resistance.
- ESBLs are susceptible to clavulanate inhibition and detectable via various diagnostic tests.
- ESBLs are carried on transmissible plasmids, often alongside resistance to other antibiotic classes.
Conclusions:
- ESBLs represent a significant challenge in antibiotic resistance, particularly in Klebsiella spp.
- Effective detection methods are crucial for managing ESBL-producing bacteria.
- The complex epidemiology and plasmid-mediated transmission of ESBLs necessitate careful control measures in healthcare settings.
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