Abstract
Beta-lactamases are the greatest single source of resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics. For over 60 years, clinicians have seen a pattern whereby useful new beta-lactam analogues are introduced but then select for new beta-lactamases that cause resistance. Thus, penicillin G was undermined by swift accumulation of staphylococcal penicillinase, ampicillin by TEM-1 enzyme and modern oxymino cephalosporins by "extended-spectrum" beta-lactamases. Tony Fink's work contributed greatly to our understanding of the mechanisms and active site function of beta-lactamases and this knowledge now informs the search for new beta-lactams and beta-lactamase inhibitors.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 397-400 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Current Protein and Peptide Science |
Volume | 10 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Oct 2009 |
Keywords
- Bacterial Infections
- Drug Design
- Drug Resistance, Bacterial
- Escherichia coli
- Humans
- Microbial Sensitivity Tests
- Models, Chemical
- Penicillins
- Staphylococcus aureus
- World Health
- beta-Lactamases
- beta-Lactams