Beta-lactamase

Seemed like a lot of people either forgot or just didn't know what Beta-lactamases were in lab this morning so…I checked it out and this is the simple version of what I found:

Beta-lactamases are enzymes produced by some bacteria and are responsible for the bacteria's resistance to antibiotics like penicillins (we used ampicillin), cephalosporins, cephamycins, and carbapenems.

A Beta-lactam refers to the ring structure that is found in antibiotics in the penicillin family. Beta-lactamase targets this ring which, when broken down, renders the antibiotic useless against the bacteria with this enzyme.