Beta-lactamase inhibitors derived from single-domain antibody fragments elicited in the camelidae

Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2001 Oct;45(10):2807-12. doi: 10.1128/AAC.45.10.2807-2812.2001.

Abstract

Small, soluble single-domain fragments derived from the unique variable region of dromedary heavy-chain antibodies (VHHs) against enzymes are known to be potent inhibitors. The immunization of dromedaries with the TEM-1 and BcII beta-lactamases has lead to the isolation of such single-domain antibody fragments specifically recognizing and inhibiting those beta-lactamases. Two VHHs were isolated that inhibit TEM-1 and one BcII inhibiting VHH was identified. All inhibitory VHHs were tight-binding inhibitors. The 50% inhibitory concentrations were determined for all inhibitors and they were all in the same range as the enzyme concentration used in the assay. Addition of the VHHs to the TEM-1 beta-lactamase, expressed on the surface of bacteria, leads to a higher ampicillin sensitivity of the bacteria. This innovative strategy could generate multiple potent inhibitors for all types of beta-lactamases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Ampicillin / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Antibody Specificity
  • Bacterial Proteins / pharmacology*
  • Camelus / immunology*
  • Escherichia coli / drug effects
  • Escherichia coli / enzymology
  • Immunoglobulin Fragments / isolation & purification
  • Immunoglobulin Fragments / pharmacology*
  • Male
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Penicillin Resistance
  • Penicillins / pharmacology
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • beta-Lactamase Inhibitors*
  • beta-Lactamases / immunology

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Immunoglobulin Fragments
  • Penicillins
  • beta-Lactamase Inhibitors
  • beta-lactamase-inhibitor protein, Streptomyces
  • immunoglobulin Fv
  • Ampicillin
  • beta-Lactamases