Cloning of chromosomal beta-lactamase genes from Yersinia enterocolitica.

Two beta-lactamase genes present in the chromosome of Yersinia enterocolitica have been cloned individually into the plasmid pACY184 and expressed in Escherichia coli. The gene for broad-spectrum beta-lactamase I ('A') was cloned from a strain belonging to the O:3 serotype, and the gene for (cephalosporinase) beta-lactamase II ('B') was cloned from a strain of the O:5b serotype. The properties of the beta-lactamases expressed in E. coli are similar to those previously described in Y. enterocolitica.