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β Lactamase Definition and Explanation PDF | Download eBooks

Learn β Lactamase definition in microbiology with explanation to study “What is Β-Lactamase”. Study β lactamase explanation with microbiology terms to review microbiology course for online degree programs.

β Lactamase Definition:

  • An enzyme that hydrolyzes the β-lactam ring, rendering the antibiotic inactive. Sometimes called penicillinase.

    Prescott's Microbiology 9th Edition by Joanne Willey, Linda Sherwood, Christopher J. Woolverton



β Lactamase Explanation:

β-lactamase is an enzyme that is produced by bacteria to inactivate the β-lactam ring in the antibiotics structure by catalyzing the hydrolysis reaction of the amide bond. These enzymes offer multi-drug resistance as they inactivate multiple β-lactam antibiotics such as penicillins, cephamycins, cephalosporins, and carbapenems.

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