TEM-109 (CMT-5), a Natural Complex Mutant of TEM-1 β-Lactamase Combining the Amino Acid Substitutions of TEM-6 and TEM-33 (IRT-5)

Abstract

Escherichia coli CF349 exhibited a complex β-lactam resistance phenotype, including resistance to amoxicillin and ticarcillin alone and in combination with clavulanate and to some extended-spectrum cephalosporins. The double-disk synergy test was positive. CF349 harbored an 85-kb conjugative plasmid which encoded a β-lactamase of pI 5.9. The corresponding bla gene was identified by PCR and sequencing as a bla_TEM gene. The deduced protein sequence revealed a new complex mutant of TEM-1 β-lactamase designated TEM-109 (CMT-5). TEM-109 contained both the substitutions Glu104Lys and Arg164His of the expanded-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) TEM-6 and Met69Leu of the inhibitor-resistant TEM-33 (IRT-5). TEM-109 exhibited hydrolytic activity against ceftazidime similar to that of TEM-6 (k_cat, 56 s⁻¹ and 105 s⁻¹, respectively; K_m values, 226 and 247 μM, respectively). The 50% inhibitory concentrations of clavulanate and tazobactam (0.13 μM and 0.27 μM, respectively) were 5- to 10-fold higher for TEM-109 than for TEM-6 (0.01 and 0.06 μM, respectively) but were almost 10-fold lower than those for TEM-33. The characterization of this novel CMT, which exhibits a low level of resistance to inhibitors, highlights the emergence of this new ESBL type.