Part:BBa_K1927000

Usage and Biology

This biobrick contains an ESBL gene called blaNDM-1 E.Coli which represent class B carbapenemase of the ESBL group. It belongs to a rather big group of extended spectrum β - lactamases (ESBL). Bacteria that produces these enzymes are resistant to several types of antibiotics. Classification of ESBL is done in many ways and is rather complicated. Different nomenclatures have been proposed and depated for beta lactamases which includes several hundreds of enzymes.(http://www.lahey.org/studies/webt.asp) Carbapenemase is a versatile group of beta lactamases, they have the abitily to hydrolyze penicillins, cephalosporins, monobactams and cabapenems. For this reason these bacteria can cause serious infections in humans. Carbapenemases are further divided into molecular classes A, B and C. This particular gene belongs to class B which represent metallo-beta-lactamases that contain zink in the active site. The gene has been shown to spread at an unprecedented rate because it has been identified not only in single species but also in unrelated species.

UiOslo’s project will focus on a particular antibiotic resistance mechanism caused by extended - spectrum beta lactamase (ESBL). This is also the reason for generation of this biobrick. These type of enzymes was first detected in 1979 and the prevalence of these ESBL producing bacteria have gradually increased in hospitals and other health care institutions.

The majority of E. Coli ESBL infections are represented by urinary tract infections, but they can also cause other severe infections in the blood stream and the central nervous system. The mechanism for antibiotic resistance is usually the same among different EBSL producing bacteria. It is based on the same principles as other beta lactamases. They have the ability to hydrolyze the beta lactam ring that is the “active site” to several types of antibiotics such as Penicillin derivatives, third - generation cephalosporins and axtreonam. In addition to this, ESBL producing bacteria exhibit co-resistance to many other classes of antibiotics which makes these kinds of infections challenging to treat. Thus, there is need for efficient detection methods and development of better antimicrobal agents among towards these organisms.