Genomic analysis of bifunctional Class C-Class D β-lactamases in environmental bacteria

β-lactamases, which are found in several bacterial species and environments, are the main cause of resistance to β-lactams in Gram-negative bacteria. In 2009, a protein (LRA-13) with two β-lactamase domains (one class C domain and one class D domain) was experimentally characterised, and an extended action spectrum against β-lactams consistent with two functional domains was found. Here, we present the results of searches in the non-redundant NCBI protein database that revealed the existence of a group of homologous bifunctional β-lactamases in the genomes of environmental bacteria. These findings suggest that bifunctional β-lactamases are widespread in nature; these findings also raise concern that bifunctional β-lactamases may be transferred to bacteria of clinical importance through lateral gene transfer mechanisms.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Silveira,Melise Chaves, Catanho,Marcos, Miranda,Antônio Basílio de
Format:	Digital revista
Language:	English
Published:	Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Ministério da Saúde 2018
Online Access:	http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0074-02762018000800401
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