Nucleic Acids Res. 1997 Dec 15;25(24):4876-82.
The CLUSTAL_X windows interface: flexible strategies for multiple sequence alignment aided by quality analysis tools.
The spread of beta-lactamases, which confer resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics, is a serious clinical and public health problem. Genotypic and functional characterization of beta-lactamases is critical. The curation of many of these medically-important enzymes has in the past been performed solely by Drs. Karen Bush, George Jacoby, and Timothy Palzkill and has been hosted at the Lahey Clinic. After discussion with the above experts NCBI has agreed to host the data to ensure the long-term stability of this important resource which will include:
The storage of current beta-lactamase alleles (the specific nucleotide and protein accessions associated with each allele) along with links to any publication when available.
The curation (assignment of) new beta-lactamase alleles.
Enabling the retrieval of beta-lactamase nucleotide and protein accessions along with the antibiotic susceptibility profile of a transconjugant/transformant bearing the beta-lactamase gene(s).
Currently, the Lahey db curates beta-lactamase enzymes belonging to the following families: ACC, ACT, BEL, CARB, CFE, CMY, CTX-M, DHA, FOX, GES, GIM, KPC, IMI, IMP, IND, LAT, MIR, MOX, NDM, OXA, PER, SHV, SME, TEM, VEB, and VIM. Another web site for TEM, SHV, and class B enzymes can be found at http://www.laced.uni-stuttgart.de. A web site for LEN, OXY,
NHMRC Senior Research Fellow
Drug Delivery, Disposition and Dynamics
Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences
The last line of defence
Professor Jian Li represents one of medical science's last defences against the ongoing march of the bacterial andlsquo;superbugs'. He is a world leader in the pharmacology of polymyxin, one of the few antibiotics currently available that is still capable of successfully fighting bacteria which have become resistant to just about every other antibiotic on the market.