Ratiometric Fluorescence Detection of Pathogenic Bacteria Resistant to Broad-Spectrum β-Lactam Antibiotics

Identification of bacteria: A methoxyimino cephalosporin derivative containing a pair of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) fluorophores was synthesized. This probe displays selective cleavage toward different types of β-lactamases, thereby providing a rapid assay to distinguish bacterial cells that are either sensitive or resistant to broad-spectrum β-lactam antibiotics (see picture).