Structure-function studies of Ser-289 in the class C beta-lactamase from Enterobacter cloacae P99. (1/331)

Site-directed mutagenesis of Ser-289 of the class C beta-lactamase from Enterobacter cloacae P99 was performed to investigate the role of this residue in beta-lactam hydrolysis. This amino acid lies near the active site of the enzyme, where it can interact with the C-3 substituent of cephalosporins. Kinetic analysis of six mutant beta-lactamases with five cephalosporins showed that Ser-289 can be substituted by amino acids with nonpolar or polar uncharged side chains without altering the catalytic efficiency of the enzyme. These data suggest that Ser-289 is not essential in the binding or hydrolytic mechanism of AmpC beta-lactamase. However, replacement by Lys or Arg decreased by two- to threefold the kcat of four of the five beta-lactams tested, particularly cefoperazone, cephaloridine, and cephalothin. Three-dimensional models of the mutant beta-lactamases revealed that the length and positive charge of the side chain of Lys and Arg could create an electrostatic linkage to the C-4 carboxylic acid group of the dihydrothiazine ring of the acyl intermediate which could slow the deacylation step or hinder release of the product.  (+info)

Stool microflora in extremely low birthweight infants. (2/331)

AIM: To serially characterise aerobic and anaerobic stool microflora in extremely low birthweight infants and to correlate colonisation patterns with clinical risk factors. METHODS: Stool specimens from 29 infants of birthweight <1000 g were collected on days 10, 20, and 30 after birth. Quantitative aerobic and anaerobic cultures were performed. RESULTS: By day 30, predominant species were Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Enterbacter cloacae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Staphylococcus haemolyticus. Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria spp were identified in only one infant. In breast milk fed (but not in formula fed) infants, the total number of bacterial species/stool specimen increased significantly with time (2.50 (SE 0.34) on day 10; 3.13 (0.38) on day 20; 4.27 (0.45) on day 30) as did quantitative bacterial counts; Gram negative species accounted for most of the increase. On day 30, significant inverse correlations were found between days of previous antibiotic treatment and number of bacterial species (r=0.491) and total organisms/g of stool (r=0.482). Gestational age, birthweight, maternal antibiotic or steroid treatment, prolonged rupture of the membranes, and mode of delivery did not seem to affect colonisation patterns. CONCLUSIONS: The gut of extremely low birthweight infants is colonised by a paucity of bacterial species. Breast milking and reduction of antibiotic exposure are critical to increasing fecal microbial diversity.  (+info)

Role of pfkA and general carbohydrate catabolism in seed colonization by Enterobacter cloacae. (3/331)

Enterobacter cloacae A-11 is a transposon mutant of strain 501R3 that was deficient in cucumber spermosphere colonization and in the utilization of certain carbohydrates (D. P. Roberts, C. J. Sheets, and J. S. Hartung, Can. J. Microbiol. 38:1128-1134, 1992). In vitro growth of strain A-11 was reduced or deficient on most carbohydrates that supported growth of strain 501R3 but was unaffected on fructose, glycerol, and all amino acids and organic acids tested. Colonization by strain A-11 was significantly reduced (P +info)

Markedly different rates and resistance profiles exhibited by seven commonly used and newer beta-lactams on the selection of resistant variants of Enterobacter cloacae. (4/331)

Seven beta-lactam antibiotics (cefepime, cefoperazone, ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, cefamandole, imipenem and meropenem) were tested for their potential to select resistance in standard and clinical strains of Enterobacter cloacae (n = 9). The strains were subcultured daily with the test antibiotics at doubling concentrations starting at 0.125 x MIC. Development of resistance throughout the passages was detected by a disc diffusion test. Ceftazidime, ceftriaxone and cefamandole selected resistance at a faster rate than cefoperazone, cefepime and meropenem. Imipenem did not select resistance in the nine strains tested and was the only antibiotic that eradicated all the strains during selection. The resistance patterns of strains selected by meropenem, cefepime and the other cephalosporins were markedly different, although cross-resistance to the early generation cephalosporins was common. The resistance phenotypes of most strains remained stable upon serial passages in antibiotic-free medium. The findings of this study highlight the importance of the choice of antibiotic for therapy not only on the basis of its antibacterial activity, but also on its potential to select resistance to itself and other antibiotics.  (+info)

Sequence of the MIR-1 beta-lactamase gene. (5/331)

The complete nucleotide sequence of the plasmid-mediated MIR-1 beta-lactamase gene confirms its relationship to chromosomally located ampC genes of Enterobacter cloacae. blaMIR-1 is not part of a typical gene cassette but does lie near an element that could be involved in its capture on a plasmid.  (+info)

In vitro and in vivo activities of Syn2190, a novel beta-lactamase inhibitor. (6/331)

Syn2190, a monobactam derivative containing 1,5-dihydroxy-4-pyridone as the C-3 side chain, is a potent inhibitor of group 1 beta-lactamase. The concentrations of inhibitor needed to reduce the initial rate of hydrolysis of substrate by 50% for Syn2190 against these enzymes were in the range of 0.002 to 0.01 microM. These values were 220- to 850-fold lower than those of tazobactam. Syn2190 showed in vitro synergy with ceftazidime and cefpirome. This synergy was dependent on the concentration of the inhibitor against group 1 beta-lactamase-producing strains, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter cloacae, Citrobacter freundii, and Morganella morganii. However, against beta-lactamase-derepressed mutants of P. aeruginosa, the MICs of ceftazidime plus Syn2190 were not affected by the amount of beta-lactamase, and the values were the same for the parent strains. The MICs at which 50% of isolates are inhibited (MIC(50)s) of ceftazidime plus Syn2190 were 2- to 16-fold lower than those of ceftazidime alone for ceftazidime-resistant, clinically isolated gram-negative bacteria. Similarly, the MIC(50)s of cefpirome plus Syn2190 were two- to eightfold lower for cefpirome-resistant clinical isolates. The synergies of Syn2190 plus ceftazidime or cefpirome observed in vitro were also reflected in vivo. Syn2190 improved the efficacies of both cephalosporins in both a murine systemic infection model with cephalosporin-resistant rods and urinary tract infection models with cephalosporin-resistant P. aeruginosa.  (+info)

Comparative in vitro activities of ciprofloxacin, clinafloxacin, gatifloxacin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, and trovafloxacin against Klebsiella pneumoniae, Klebsiella oxytoca, Enterobacter cloacae, and Enterobacter aerogenes clinical isolates with alterations in GyrA and ParC proteins. (7/331)

The in vitro activities of ciprofloxacin, clinafloxacin, gatifloxacin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, and trovafloxacin were tested against 72 ciprofloxacin-resistant and 28 ciprofloxacin-susceptible isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae, Klebsiella oxytoca, Enterobacter cloacae, and Enterobacter aerogenes. Irrespective of the alterations in GyrA and ParC proteins, clinafloxacin exhibited greater activity than all other fluoroquinolones tested against K. pneumoniae and E. aerogenes.  (+info)

Inhibition of the broad spectrum nonmetallocarbapenamase of class A (NMC-A) beta-lactamase from Enterobacter cloacae by monocyclic beta-lactams. (8/331)

beta-Lactamases hydrolyze beta-lactam antibiotics, a reaction that destroys their antibacterial activity. These enzymes, of which four classes are known, are the primary cause of resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics. The class A beta-lactamases form the largest group. A novel class A beta-lactamase, named the nonmetallocarbapenamase of class A (NMC-A) beta-lactamase, has been discovered recently that has a broad substrate profile that included carbapenem antibiotics. This is a serious development, since carbapenems have been relatively immune to the action of these resistance enzymes. Inhibitors for this enzyme are sought. We describe herein that a type of monobactam molecule of our design inactivates the NMC-A beta-lactamase rapidly, efficiently, and irreversibly. The mechanism of inactivation was investigated by solving the x-ray structure of the inhibited NMC-A enzyme to 1.95 A resolution. The structure shed light on the nature of the fragmentation of the inhibitor on enzyme acylation and indicated that there are two acyl-enzyme species that account for enzyme inhibition. Each of these inhibited enzyme species is trapped in a distinct local energy minimum that does not predispose the inhibitor species for deacylation, accounting for the irreversible mode of enzyme inhibition. Molecular dynamics simulations provided evidence in favor of a dynamic motion for the acyl-enzyme species, which samples a considerable conformational space prior to the entrapment of the two stable acyl-enzyme species in the local energy minima. A discussion of the likelihood of such dynamic motion for turnover of substrates during the normal catalytic processes of the enzyme is presented.  (+info)