Acquired Carbapenem-Hydrolyzing Beta-Lactamases and their Genetic Support

Carbapenem-hydrolyzing ß-lactamases of several Ambler molecular classes have been reported as the source of acquired ß-lactam antibiotic resistance in Gram negative bacteria. The metallo-enzymes of Ambler class B are the most prevalent enzymes in this case. These clavulanic-acid resistant enzymes have a large spectrum of hydrolysis including penicillins, cephalosporins (third and fourth generations), carbapenems but not monobactams. They are responsible for acquired resistance in several Gram negative species of clinical relevance in human medicine. IMP-1 was the first reported as acquired in Japan, mostly from Serratia marcescens and Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates, and has been detected in Europe recently. Several variants of IMP-1 (IMP-2 to -9) have been characterized, possessing 85 to 99% amino acid identity, mostly from P. aeruginosa isolates. In addition, VIM-1 to -3 ß-lactamases have also been described, first in Europe (Italy, France, and Greece) and now in Korea. The VIM series shares 30% amino acid identity with the IMP-series. Most of these class B enzymes have genes that are integron- and plasmid-located. Finally, a few Ambler class A (SME-1, NMC-A, IMI-1, KPC-1) and class D (OXA-23 to -27) ß-lactamases involved in carbapenem hydrolysis have been reported also from rare isolates of Gramnegative rods. This review underlines the worldwide spread of carbapenem-hydrolyzing βlactamases as representing an important threat for efficacy of antibiotics in the near future.