Brazil Klebsiella carbapenemase 1 (BKC-1)

Brazil Klebsiella carbapenemase 1 (BKC-1) is a Class A serine beta-lactamase that confers broad-spectrum resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics, including carbapenems, penicillins, and cephalosporins (Perez-Chaparro et al., 2013). First identified in clinical isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae in Brazil, the enzyme is characterized by its ability to hydrolyze carbapenems, which are critical last-resort treatments for multidrug-resistant infections (Nicoletti et al., 2015). BKC-1 is typically encoded on highly mobile plasmids, such as IncX3, which facilitates its horizontal transfer and rapid spread among various Enterobacteriaceae species (Ferreira et al., 2019). The enzyme's catalytic mechanism involves a conserved serine residue that mediates the hydrolysis of the antibiotic's beta-lactam ring, effectively neutralizing its antibacterial activity. Clinically, BKC-1-producing pathogens pose a significant threat in healthcare settings due to limited therapeutic options. However, BKC-1 remains susceptible to inhibition by newer non-beta-lactam beta-lactamase inhibitors like avibactam and vaborbactam, which are used in combination with antibiotics to restore clinical efficacy (Cunningham et al., 2019).

Other names

BKC-1 beta-lactamaseClass A carbapenemase BKC-1blaBKC-1

Inhibition of the carbapenemase enzyme activity to prevent the hydrolysis of beta-lactam antibiotics, thereby restoring their antibacterial efficacy.