Characterization of clinical isolates of beta-lactamase-negative, highly ampicillin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis

Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1996 Oct;40(10):2420-2. doi: 10.1128/AAC.40.10.2420.

Abstract

We analyzed the penicillin-binding protein (PBP) profiles of two clinical isolates of Enterococcus faecalis for which ampicillin MICs were 32 and 64 micrograms/ml. Six PBPs were detected in both isolates, demonstrating an apparently increased amount of PBP 5 and decreased penicillin binding of PBPs 1 and 6. These results suggest that ampicillin resistance in the clinical isolates of E. faecalis described could be associated with alterations in different PBPs.

MeSH terms

  • Ampicillin Resistance / physiology*
  • Bacterial Proteins*
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism
  • Enterococcus faecalis / drug effects*
  • Enterococcus faecalis / enzymology*
  • Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / microbiology*
  • Hexosyltransferases*
  • Humans
  • Muramoylpentapeptide Carboxypeptidase / metabolism
  • Penicillin-Binding Proteins
  • Penicillins / metabolism
  • Peptidyl Transferases*
  • beta-Lactamases / metabolism*

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Penicillin-Binding Proteins
  • Penicillins
  • Peptidyl Transferases
  • Hexosyltransferases
  • Muramoylpentapeptide Carboxypeptidase
  • beta-Lactamases