Understanding the evolution and biogenesis of the β-lactamase superfamily in Enterobacteriaceae

Antimicrobial resistance is a global threat to the treatment of bacterial infections. One of the dominant mechanisms of resistance is the acquisitions of enzymes known as β-lactamases, that degrade β-lactams, a class of antibiotics frequently used to treat infections. This thesis focuses on how these enzymes are actually formed and processed when they are acquired by some bacteria and how the bacteria that acquire these enzymes in turn adapt and evolve to ensure proper enzyme functionality to maintain antibiotic resistance.