Penicillin-binding proteins involved in high-level piperacillin resistance in Veillonella spp.

OBJECTIVES To investigate high-level piperacillin resistance in Veillonella spp. in the absence of beta-lactamase activity. METHODS Penicillin-binding protein (PBP) competition studies were conducted in Veillonella strains, with piperacillin MICs ranging from 0.5 to >128 mg/L and ampicillin MICs from 0.125 to 4 mg/L. Whole cell lysates were pre-incubated with piperacillin or ampicillin and post-labelled with [3H]benzylpenicillin. RESULTS PBP competition studies showed that the PBP with greatest affinity for penicillin and ampicillin had a molecular weight of approximately 66 kDa, and exhibited reduced binding of piperacillin in resistant strains. CONCLUSIONS This unusual focusing of different penicillins on one PBP may be the cause of selective mutants resulting from piperacillin MICs > 128 mg/L. In the absence of beta-lactamases, alterations in penicillin-binding were seen to be major contributors to high-level piperacillin resistance development.