Plasmid-mediated beta-lactamase in Branhamella catarrhalis

The plasmid-mediated beta-lactamase in Branhamella catarrhalis (BRO-1), also occurring in Moraxella nonliquefaciens, differs from other known plasmid-mediated beta-lactamases in Gram-negative bacteria regarding substrate profile and isoelectric point. B. catarrhalis strains previously reported to produce beta-lactamases deviating from BRO-1 were tested, and the beta-lactamases did not differ significantly from BRO-1 in substrate profile, isoelectric point or relative substrate affinity index (RSAI). Further investigations of strains of various geographic origin should be undertaken. RSAI seems to be a useful tool for screening of beta-lactamases in B. catarrhalis since values for a large number of strains can easily be determined. The previously reported conjugational transfer of BRO-1 production within species B. catarrhalis and from M. nonliquefaciens to B. catarrhalis was confirmed. Four bands of extrachromosomal DNA were regularly detected by agarose gel electrophoresis in beta-lactamase-producing as well as in beta-lactamase-negative strains of B. catarrhalis and M. non-liquefaciens, provided that the excessive nuclease activity in the preparations was inhibited.