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Ampicillin Resistance

Resistance to the antibiotic ampicillin

The ampicillin resistance gene ampR (also known as blaTEM1) is derived from the bacterium Salmonella paratyphi and is used as a marker gene in the transformation of micro-organisms and plants. It is responsible for the synthesis of the enzyme beta-lactamase, which neutralises antibiotics in the penicillin group, including ampicillin.

In human medicine, ampicillin is prescribed to treat certain infections.

Ampicillin resistance is widespread in the environment. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) works on the assumption that its use in transgenic plants has virtually no effect on its current distribution. However, it recommends approving the use of ampicillin only in the context of release trials and not for commercially grown GM plants.