Beta-Lactamase Inhibitor Screening Kit (Colorimetric)

β-Lactamase (βL), (EC 3.5.2.6), is a bacterial enzyme that hydrolyzes the β-Lactam ring, a four-carbon ring, the building block of β-Lactam antibiotics. β-Lactams inhibit transpeptidases, enzymes that participate in the biosynthesis of bacterial cell walls. Penams, Carbapenems, Cephems, Clavams, Oxacephems and Monobactams have been widely used for the treatment of bacterial infections since the discovery of penicillin, the first β-Lactam antibiotic, and its bactericidal effect more than eighty years ago. However, an alarming number of cases of β-Lactam antibiotic-resistant infections have been reported. The resistance is found in bacterial strains producing β-Lactamase, which is responsible for diminishing the β-Lactam antibiotic potency. β-Lactamase inhibition, therefore, has become an urgent target in the treatment of bacterial infections displaying β-Lactam resistance. Several β-Lactam derivatives have been reported as β-Lactamase inhibitors; however, only clavulanic acid, sulbactam and tazobactam have reached clinical importance. BioVision’s β-Lactamase Inhibitor Screening Kit utilizes the ability of the enzyme to hydrolyze Nitrocefin, a well-known β-Lactamase substrate. In the presence of Clavulanic Acid-a potent inhibitor of β-Lactamase, the rate of hydrolysis of the substrate is decreased. The kit provides a rapid, simple, sensitive, and reliable test suitable for high- throughput screening of β-Lactamase inhibitors.