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No description available.

Klebsiella pneumoniae is a common cause of nosocomial and community-acquired infections, and the increasing incidence and prevalence of antibiotic resistant strains is proving to be particularly problematic to clinicians. K. pneumoniae is capable of employing a multitude of mechanisms by which to confer resistance to most available antibiotics. The carbapenem antibiotics are usually reserved for the treatment of complicated or multidrug resistant (MDR) K. pneumoniae infections. The recent emergence of not only MDR but also pan-drug resistant (PDR) K. pneumoniae strains has signified that it is now more important than ever to understand the mechanisms by which these strains confer resistance so that we may find ways to combat or hinder this progression. This project aimed to investigate the regulation of the transcriptional activator RamA, its ability to confer a MDR phenotype, and the mechanisms employed by K. pneumoniae to confer levels of carbapenem resistance sufficient to result in therapy failure. The analysis of a panel of K. pneumoniae strains, containing both RamA expressers and non-expressers, demonstrated that the overexpression of RamA was sufficient to confer an MDR phenotype. Two compounds, chlorpromazine (CPZ) and tigecycline, were shown to act as inducers of ramA, romA and acrA transcription. CPZ exhibited synergy with the antibiotics chloramphenicol, norfloxacin and tetracycline, all of which are known substrates of the AcrAB efflux pump. The current lack of novel classes of antimicrobials in development indicate a potential for a compound, such as CPZ, to be developed and exploited for clinical use. The ability of both CPZ and tigecycline to cause mutations within ramR however, indicate that both compounds may have the ability to select for efflux mutants as a result of their ability to upregulate ramA, which in turn causes the upregulation of the AcrAB efflux pump. The regulation of RamA by the upstream gene ramR, which encodes a TetR family protein was investigated in K. pneumoniae isolates. Sequencing of the ramR genes revealed that strains exhibiting an MDR phenotype commonly contained mutations within their gene sequences. The complementation of a wildtype ramR into a strain containing a 32 amino acid deletion within its ramR, was shown to increase susceptibility to various antibiotics of different classes, and additionally downregulate the expression of ramA, romA and acrA. CPZ, ciprofloxacin and tigecycline K. pneumoniae mutants were shown to exhibit increased MICs to a broad spectrum of antibiotics with respect to their parent strains, and possess mutations within their ramR genes. Complementation of the wildtype ramR resulted in partial reversion to the parental phenotypes, indicating another mechanism must also be involved in conferring the MDR phenotypes. These studies indicated that RamR plays an important role as a negative regulator of RamA, but also that it is not the sole regulator. The development of reduced susceptibility to the carbapenems was investigated in two clinical strains of K. pneumoniae, K1 and K2, isolated from the urine of a single patient at different stages of antibiotic therapy. The strains were shown to exhibit similar resistance phenotypes with the exception of their susceptibilities to the carbapenems. PCR and phenotypic analyses revealed that neither strain contained any carbapenemases or AmpC enzymes, but both contained OXA-1, SHV-1 TEM-1 and CTX-M-15. Analysis of their OMP profiles indicated that both strains lacked OmpK35, and K2 additionally lacked OmpK36. Mutation studies showed that the phenotype and OMP profile exhibited by K2 could be achieved in K1 via single step mutations using ertapenem, imipenem or meropenem. Susceptibility testing of CTXM- 15 clinical strains showed that strains containing CTX-M-15 showed reduced activity against ertapenem in the presence of clavulanic acid. These studies indicated a potential role for CTX-M-15 in conferring reduced susceptibility to the carbapenems when found in conjunction with altered permeability and active efflux. The mechanisms of antibiotic resistance employed by K. pneumoniae are numerous and complex. This work highlights several of these mechanisms and, more importantly, how they can work in synergy with one another to devastating consequences.

Yes / There is a need to develop asymmetric routes to functionalised β-lactams, which remain the most important group of antibacterials. Here we describe biocatalytic and protein engineering studies concerning carbapenem biosynthesis enzymes, aiming to enable stereoselective production of functionalised carbapenams with three contiguous chiral centres. Structurallyguided substitutions of wildtype carboxymethylproline synthases enable tuning of their C-N and C-C bond forming capacity to produce 5-carboxymethylproline derivatives substituted at C-4 and C-6, from amino acid aldehyde and malonyl-CoA derivatives. Use of tandem enzyme incubations comprising an engineered carboxymethylproline synthase and an alkylmalonylCoA forming enzyme (i.e. malonyl-CoA synthetase or crotonyl-CoA carboxylase reductase) can improve stereocontrol and expand the product range. Some of the prepared 4,6-disubstituted-5-carboxymethylproline derivatives are converted to bicyclic β-lactams by carbapenam synthetase catalysis. The results illustrate the utility of tandem enzyme systems involving engineered crotonases for asymmetric bicyclic β-lactam synthesis.

Diante do aumento global da resistência microbiana, cada vez mais as combinações de antimicrobianos são utilizadas na tentativa de obter uma atividade sinérgica eficaz que possa ser utilizada na prática clínica. O objetivo deste trabalho foi comparar a atividade de polimixina B isoladamente e em combinação com tigeciclina e carbapenêmicos (ertapenem e meropenem), frente a isolados de Enterobacter sp. resistentes aos carbapenêmicos. Foram selecionados quatro isolados de Enterobacter sp. resistentes aos carbapenêmicos, sendo três isolados produtores de carbapenemases (KPC, NDM, OXA-48-like) e um não produtor de carbapenemases (NPC). A avaliação da atividade sinérgica antimicrobiana foi realizada por ensaio de time-kill com as seguintes concentrações de cada antimicrobiano: tigeciclina 1mg/L, meropenem 1mg/L e ertapenem 0,5mg/L, que correspondem aos pontos de corte de sensibilidade do CLSI (2016). Para polimixina B, foram utilizadas diferentes concentrações de acordo com o perfil de susceptibilidade do isolado: para os isolados sensíveis, utilizou-se 0,5x; 1x e 2x a CIM do isolado; para o isolado resistente, foram utilizados 0,5x; 1x e 2x o ponto de corte de sensibilidade do CLSI (2 mg/L). Foi considerada sinérgica a combinação com redução ≥ 2 logs do inoculo inicial em comparação ao antimicrobiano sozinho mais ativo. As combinações de polimixina B em diferentes concentrações (0,5; 1 e 2mg/L) com meropenem apresentaram atividade sinérgica para a cepa produtora de NDM (CIM polimixina B 1 mg/L; CIM meropenem 8 mg/L) As combinações de polimixina B com tigeciclina foram sinérgicas apenas na concentração de polimixina B de 0,125 mg/L para cepa produtora de OXA-48-like (CIM polimixina B 0,25 mg/L; CIM tigeciclina 2 mg/L) e na concentração de 1 mg/L para a cepa produtora de NDM. Para a cepa NPC (CIM polimixina B 0,5 mg/L; CIM tigeciclina 4 mg/L; CIM meropenem 4 mg/L), apenas a tripla combinação com polimixina B (1 mg/L), tigeciclina e meropenem apresentou atividade sinérgica. A combinação de dois carbapenêmicos não apresentou atividade sinérgica para nenhum isolado, porém, quando acrescentado tigeciclina ao esquema, observou-se sinergismo no isolado produtor de OXA-48-like, o que leva ao questionamento da efetividade da terapia “carbapenem suicida”. Para o isolado produtor de KPC e com padrão de resistência a polimixina B, nenhuma das combinações testadas apresentou sinergismo. Esta situação é bastante preocupante devido à alta prevalência de infecções por bactérias produtoras de KPC nos hospitais brasileiros, juntamente com as crescentes taxas de resistência as polimixinas. / Due to the increase in microbial resistance, combinations of antimicrobials are increasingly being used to improve the therapeutic response. The objective of this study was to compare the activity of polymyxin B alone and in combination with tigecycline and carbapenem (ertapenem and meropenem) against to carbapenem-resistant Enterobacter sp isolates. Four isolates were selected, three were carbapenemase-producing (KPC, NDM, OXA-48-like) and a non-carbapenemase-producing (NCP). The evaluation of synergistic antimicrobial activity was performed by time-kill assay with the following concentrations of each antimicrobial: tigecycline 1mg/L, meropenem 1mg/L and ertapenem 0.5mg/L, which correspond to the breakpoints of CLSI (2016). For polymyxin B, different concentrations were used according to the susceptibility profile of the isolate: for susceptible isolates, it was used 0.5x; 1x and 2x the MIC of the isolate, for the resistant isolates it was used 0.5x; 1x and 2x the breakpoint of CLSI (2 mg/L). The combination with reduction ≥ 2 logs of the initial inoculum compared to the most active antimicrobial alone was considered synergies. Combinations of polymyxin B at different concentrations (0.5; 1 and 2 mg/L) with meropenem showed synergistic activity for the NDM-producing isolate (MIC polymyxin B 1 mg/L, MIC meropenem 8 mg/L) Combinations of polymyxin B with tigecycline were synergistic only at the concentration of polymyxin B of 0.125 mg/L for the OXA-48-like-producing isolate (MIC polymyxin B 0.25 mg/L, MIC tigecycline 2 mg/L) and at the concentration of 1 mg/L for the NDM-producing isolate. For the NCP isolate (MIC polymyxin B 0.5 mg/L; MIC tigecycline 4 mg/L; MIC meropenem 4 mg/L), only the triple combination of polymyxin B (1 mg/L) plus tigecycline and meropenem presented synergistic activity. The combination of two carbapenems was not synergic for the four isolates; however, when tigecycline was added to the regimen, synergies for the OXA-48-like-producing isolate were observed. Therefore, the so called, "carbapenem suicide" therapy was not effective in vitro against our isolates. For the KPC-producing isolate that it is polymyxin B resistant, none of the combinations tested showed synergies. This situation is very worrisome due to high prevalence of infections by KPC-producing in the Brazilian hospitals, associate with the increasing rates of polymyxins resistance.

Diante do aumento global da resistência microbiana, cada vez mais as combinações de antimicrobianos são utilizadas na tentativa de obter uma atividade sinérgica eficaz que possa ser utilizada na prática clínica. O objetivo deste trabalho foi comparar a atividade de polimixina B isoladamente e em combinação com tigeciclina e carbapenêmicos (ertapenem e meropenem), frente a isolados de Enterobacter sp. resistentes aos carbapenêmicos. Foram selecionados quatro isolados de Enterobacter sp. resistentes aos carbapenêmicos, sendo três isolados produtores de carbapenemases (KPC, NDM, OXA-48-like) e um não produtor de carbapenemases (NPC). A avaliação da atividade sinérgica antimicrobiana foi realizada por ensaio de time-kill com as seguintes concentrações de cada antimicrobiano: tigeciclina 1mg/L, meropenem 1mg/L e ertapenem 0,5mg/L, que correspondem aos pontos de corte de sensibilidade do CLSI (2016). Para polimixina B, foram utilizadas diferentes concentrações de acordo com o perfil de susceptibilidade do isolado: para os isolados sensíveis, utilizou-se 0,5x; 1x e 2x a CIM do isolado; para o isolado resistente, foram utilizados 0,5x; 1x e 2x o ponto de corte de sensibilidade do CLSI (2 mg/L). Foi considerada sinérgica a combinação com redução ≥ 2 logs do inoculo inicial em comparação ao antimicrobiano sozinho mais ativo. As combinações de polimixina B em diferentes concentrações (0,5; 1 e 2mg/L) com meropenem apresentaram atividade sinérgica para a cepa produtora de NDM (CIM polimixina B 1 mg/L; CIM meropenem 8 mg/L) As combinações de polimixina B com tigeciclina foram sinérgicas apenas na concentração de polimixina B de 0,125 mg/L para cepa produtora de OXA-48-like (CIM polimixina B 0,25 mg/L; CIM tigeciclina 2 mg/L) e na concentração de 1 mg/L para a cepa produtora de NDM. Para a cepa NPC (CIM polimixina B 0,5 mg/L; CIM tigeciclina 4 mg/L; CIM meropenem 4 mg/L), apenas a tripla combinação com polimixina B (1 mg/L), tigeciclina e meropenem apresentou atividade sinérgica. A combinação de dois carbapenêmicos não apresentou atividade sinérgica para nenhum isolado, porém, quando acrescentado tigeciclina ao esquema, observou-se sinergismo no isolado produtor de OXA-48-like, o que leva ao questionamento da efetividade da terapia “carbapenem suicida”. Para o isolado produtor de KPC e com padrão de resistência a polimixina B, nenhuma das combinações testadas apresentou sinergismo. Esta situação é bastante preocupante devido à alta prevalência de infecções por bactérias produtoras de KPC nos hospitais brasileiros, juntamente com as crescentes taxas de resistência as polimixinas. / Due to the increase in microbial resistance, combinations of antimicrobials are increasingly being used to improve the therapeutic response. The objective of this study was to compare the activity of polymyxin B alone and in combination with tigecycline and carbapenem (ertapenem and meropenem) against to carbapenem-resistant Enterobacter sp isolates. Four isolates were selected, three were carbapenemase-producing (KPC, NDM, OXA-48-like) and a non-carbapenemase-producing (NCP). The evaluation of synergistic antimicrobial activity was performed by time-kill assay with the following concentrations of each antimicrobial: tigecycline 1mg/L, meropenem 1mg/L and ertapenem 0.5mg/L, which correspond to the breakpoints of CLSI (2016). For polymyxin B, different concentrations were used according to the susceptibility profile of the isolate: for susceptible isolates, it was used 0.5x; 1x and 2x the MIC of the isolate, for the resistant isolates it was used 0.5x; 1x and 2x the breakpoint of CLSI (2 mg/L). The combination with reduction ≥ 2 logs of the initial inoculum compared to the most active antimicrobial alone was considered synergies. Combinations of polymyxin B at different concentrations (0.5; 1 and 2 mg/L) with meropenem showed synergistic activity for the NDM-producing isolate (MIC polymyxin B 1 mg/L, MIC meropenem 8 mg/L) Combinations of polymyxin B with tigecycline were synergistic only at the concentration of polymyxin B of 0.125 mg/L for the OXA-48-like-producing isolate (MIC polymyxin B 0.25 mg/L, MIC tigecycline 2 mg/L) and at the concentration of 1 mg/L for the NDM-producing isolate. For the NCP isolate (MIC polymyxin B 0.5 mg/L; MIC tigecycline 4 mg/L; MIC meropenem 4 mg/L), only the triple combination of polymyxin B (1 mg/L) plus tigecycline and meropenem presented synergistic activity. The combination of two carbapenems was not synergic for the four isolates; however, when tigecycline was added to the regimen, synergies for the OXA-48-like-producing isolate were observed. Therefore, the so called, "carbapenem suicide" therapy was not effective in vitro against our isolates. For the KPC-producing isolate that it is polymyxin B resistant, none of the combinations tested showed synergies. This situation is very worrisome due to high prevalence of infections by KPC-producing in the Brazilian hospitals, associate with the increasing rates of polymyxins resistance.

Diante do aumento global da resistência microbiana, cada vez mais as combinações de antimicrobianos são utilizadas na tentativa de obter uma atividade sinérgica eficaz que possa ser utilizada na prática clínica. O objetivo deste trabalho foi comparar a atividade de polimixina B isoladamente e em combinação com tigeciclina e carbapenêmicos (ertapenem e meropenem), frente a isolados de Enterobacter sp. resistentes aos carbapenêmicos. Foram selecionados quatro isolados de Enterobacter sp. resistentes aos carbapenêmicos, sendo três isolados produtores de carbapenemases (KPC, NDM, OXA-48-like) e um não produtor de carbapenemases (NPC). A avaliação da atividade sinérgica antimicrobiana foi realizada por ensaio de time-kill com as seguintes concentrações de cada antimicrobiano: tigeciclina 1mg/L, meropenem 1mg/L e ertapenem 0,5mg/L, que correspondem aos pontos de corte de sensibilidade do CLSI (2016). Para polimixina B, foram utilizadas diferentes concentrações de acordo com o perfil de susceptibilidade do isolado: para os isolados sensíveis, utilizou-se 0,5x; 1x e 2x a CIM do isolado; para o isolado resistente, foram utilizados 0,5x; 1x e 2x o ponto de corte de sensibilidade do CLSI (2 mg/L). Foi considerada sinérgica a combinação com redução ≥ 2 logs do inoculo inicial em comparação ao antimicrobiano sozinho mais ativo. As combinações de polimixina B em diferentes concentrações (0,5; 1 e 2mg/L) com meropenem apresentaram atividade sinérgica para a cepa produtora de NDM (CIM polimixina B 1 mg/L; CIM meropenem 8 mg/L) As combinações de polimixina B com tigeciclina foram sinérgicas apenas na concentração de polimixina B de 0,125 mg/L para cepa produtora de OXA-48-like (CIM polimixina B 0,25 mg/L; CIM tigeciclina 2 mg/L) e na concentração de 1 mg/L para a cepa produtora de NDM. Para a cepa NPC (CIM polimixina B 0,5 mg/L; CIM tigeciclina 4 mg/L; CIM meropenem 4 mg/L), apenas a tripla combinação com polimixina B (1 mg/L), tigeciclina e meropenem apresentou atividade sinérgica. A combinação de dois carbapenêmicos não apresentou atividade sinérgica para nenhum isolado, porém, quando acrescentado tigeciclina ao esquema, observou-se sinergismo no isolado produtor de OXA-48-like, o que leva ao questionamento da efetividade da terapia “carbapenem suicida”. Para o isolado produtor de KPC e com padrão de resistência a polimixina B, nenhuma das combinações testadas apresentou sinergismo. Esta situação é bastante preocupante devido à alta prevalência de infecções por bactérias produtoras de KPC nos hospitais brasileiros, juntamente com as crescentes taxas de resistência as polimixinas. / Due to the increase in microbial resistance, combinations of antimicrobials are increasingly being used to improve the therapeutic response. The objective of this study was to compare the activity of polymyxin B alone and in combination with tigecycline and carbapenem (ertapenem and meropenem) against to carbapenem-resistant Enterobacter sp isolates. Four isolates were selected, three were carbapenemase-producing (KPC, NDM, OXA-48-like) and a non-carbapenemase-producing (NCP). The evaluation of synergistic antimicrobial activity was performed by time-kill assay with the following concentrations of each antimicrobial: tigecycline 1mg/L, meropenem 1mg/L and ertapenem 0.5mg/L, which correspond to the breakpoints of CLSI (2016). For polymyxin B, different concentrations were used according to the susceptibility profile of the isolate: for susceptible isolates, it was used 0.5x; 1x and 2x the MIC of the isolate, for the resistant isolates it was used 0.5x; 1x and 2x the breakpoint of CLSI (2 mg/L). The combination with reduction ≥ 2 logs of the initial inoculum compared to the most active antimicrobial alone was considered synergies. Combinations of polymyxin B at different concentrations (0.5; 1 and 2 mg/L) with meropenem showed synergistic activity for the NDM-producing isolate (MIC polymyxin B 1 mg/L, MIC meropenem 8 mg/L) Combinations of polymyxin B with tigecycline were synergistic only at the concentration of polymyxin B of 0.125 mg/L for the OXA-48-like-producing isolate (MIC polymyxin B 0.25 mg/L, MIC tigecycline 2 mg/L) and at the concentration of 1 mg/L for the NDM-producing isolate. For the NCP isolate (MIC polymyxin B 0.5 mg/L; MIC tigecycline 4 mg/L; MIC meropenem 4 mg/L), only the triple combination of polymyxin B (1 mg/L) plus tigecycline and meropenem presented synergistic activity. The combination of two carbapenems was not synergic for the four isolates; however, when tigecycline was added to the regimen, synergies for the OXA-48-like-producing isolate were observed. Therefore, the so called, "carbapenem suicide" therapy was not effective in vitro against our isolates. For the KPC-producing isolate that it is polymyxin B resistant, none of the combinations tested showed synergies. This situation is very worrisome due to high prevalence of infections by KPC-producing in the Brazilian hospitals, associate with the increasing rates of polymyxins resistance.

Mechanistic and biocatalytic studies of two carboxymethylproline synthases (CMPSs), CarB and ThnE, members of the crotonase superfamily of enzymes, both in isolation and in conjunction with the activity of the crotonyl-CoA carboxylase/reductase (Ccr) the malonyl-CoA synthetase (MatB) and the methylmalonyl-CoA epimerase (MCE) are presented. Protein engineering studies on carboxymethylproline synthases aimed at enabling stereoselective C–C bond formation leading to N-heterocycles via control of trisubstituted enolate intermediates were carried out. Active site substitutions, including at the oxyanion binding site, enabled the production of substituted N-heterocycles in high diastereomeric excesses via stereocontrolled enolate formation and reaction. The biocatalytic promiscuity of malonyl-CoA ligase and the stereoselectivity of crotonyl–CoA carboxylase/reductase were successfully coupled to the selective tri- substituted enolate forming capacity of engineered carboxymethylproline synthases for the preparation of functionalized 5- and 6-membered N-heterocycles substituted with a variety of alkyl side chains at the C-5/C-6 positions at high diastereomeric excess. The effect of methylmalonyl-CoA epimerase on the diastereoselectivity of the carboxymethylproline synthase-catalysed enolated alkylation was also demonstrated. The results illustrate the utility of the crotonase superfamily of enzymes for stereoselective biocatalysis and demonstrate the power of coupled enzyme systems to enhance diastereoselectivity and to expand the range of accepted substrates.

Organic chemistry is a valuable tool for studying enzyme mechanisms. Upon incubation with a specific enzyme, synthetic substrate analogues labeled with heavy atoms or carrying extra functional groups can provide mechanistic insights. In the present work, new compounds were synthesised in order to study the mechanism and substrate selectivity of two enzymes: human γ-butyrobetaine hydroxylase and bacterial carboxymethylproline synthase. γ-Butyrobetaine hydroxylase (BBOX) is an Fe(II) and 2-oxoglutarate (2OG)-dependent oxygenase that catalyses the stereospecific hydroxylation of γ-butyrobetaine, the final step of L-carnitine (L-Car) biosynthesis in mammals. Substrate analogues were synthesised to probe BBOX specificity in vitro. Some of those unnatural substrates were oxidised by BBOX and the products identified using a range of analytical techniques. 3-(2,2,2-Trimethylhydrazinium)propionate (THP) is a clinically used BBOX inhibitor. Under standard assay conditions, THP was oxidised by BBOX. NMR studies have identified the products of this reaction to be malonic acid semialdehyde, formaldehyde, dimethylamine and 3-amino-4-(methylamino)butanoic acid. The formation of 3-amino-4-(methylamino)butanoic acid suggests that BBOX can catalyse a Stevens type rearrangement involving N-N bond cleavage and C-C bond formation. The proposed structures and mechanisms were confirmed by mass spectrometric and NMR analyses using [¹³C]-labeled THP as well as synthetic standards of both enantiomers of 3-amino-4-(methylamino)butanoic acid. Although the structure of the rearrangement product was confirmed, the stereochemistry remains unknown. Altogether, these studies revealed the unprecedented nature of a BBOX-catalysed C–C bond formation reaction upon THP oxidation and may inspire the design of improved inhibitors for BBOX and other 2OG oxygenases. Pectobacterium carotovorum CarB and Streptomyces cattleya ThnE are two carboxymethylproline synthases (CMPS) that catalyse an early step in carbapenem antibiotics biosynthesis. CMPS produces (2S,5S)-carboxymethylproline (t-CMP) from malonyl-CoA and L-glutamate semi-aldehyde. L-Glutamate semi-aldehyde exists in equilibrium with L-5-hydroxyproline and L-pyrroline-5-carboxylate in solution (collectively abbreviated L-GHP). Because of the high stereoselectivity of t-CMP formation and the growing interest in novel carbapenem antibiotics, CMPS is potentially an interesting biocatalyst. A series of L-GHP analogues were synthesised and tested as CMPS substrates in an attempt to produce unnatural t-CMP derivatives enzymatically. Methyl-substituted L-GHP analogues were accepted by CMPS and the t-CMP products could be further carried through to the corresponding bicyclic carbapenams using CarA, a β-lactam synthetase. These results demonstrate the versatility of the early carbapenem biosynthetic pathway and the possibility of introducing structural diversity using synthetic substrate analogues. A crystal structure of S. cattleya ThnE was obtained in complex with L-proline and coenzyme A, giving the first insight into substrate binding. This structural information will potentially allow further rational mutagenesis studies aiming to broaden the range of unnatural L-GHP analogues accepted by CMPS.

De acordo com a Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO, 2013), o consumo mundial de carne de frango tem aumentado de maneira significativa nas últimas décadas. Por outro lado, a preocupação dos produtores de alimentos, com a inocuidade de seus produtos também tem aumentado na mesma proporção. Durante as etapas da operação de abate de maneira geral, as contaminações cruzadas são as principais causas de disseminação de microrganismos patogênicos nos produtos obtidos e causadores de gastroenterites no consumidor. Espécies da enterobactéria Salmonella se enquadram como um dos maiores riscos desse tipo de doença devido a sua associação com os inúmeros surtos ocorridos a nível mundial, após o consumo desses produtos. Algumas enterobactérias possuem um gene blaKPC, que codifica a enzima carbapenemase, que confere resistência a antibióticos carbapenêmicos, agravando mais a situação. Alguns fatores de virulência encontrados nesse gênero de bactéria podem ainda estar associados a capacidade de adesão e formação de biofilmes em superfícies inertes, dificultando operações de higienização nas linhas de processamento. Assim sendo, a presente pesquisa objetivou a verificação da capacidade de estirpes de Salmonella spp isoladas de aviário e linha de abate de frangos de um frigorífico no estado do Rio Grande do Sul produzirem biofilmes e apresentarem resistência a antibióticos carbapenêmicos. Na avaliação da produção de biofilme, foi empregada a técnica de microplacas de polietileno e produção de cápsula segundo Stepanovic et al. (2004) e Rodrigues et al. (2006), respectivamente.Foram pesquisados os fatores de virulência de salmonelas, representados pelos genes IpfA, agfA, sefA, invA, hilA, avrA, sopE, sivH,e spvC, utilizando o método de Reação de cadeia de Polimerase (PCR), descrita por Borges et al. (2013). As estirpes foram submetidas ao teste de resistência a antibióticos carbapenêmicos pelo método de disco difusão com carbapenêmicos segundo Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute-CLSI (2010) e pesquisa do gene de resistência a carbapenêmicos blaKCP, pela técnica de PCR, segundo NAAS et al. (2007). Obteve-se quatro perfis genéticos das estirpes de Salmonella spp.: perfil 1: genes ifpA, agfA, invA e avrA; perfil2: genes ifpA, agfA, sefA, invA e avrA; perfil 3: genes invA e avrA; perfil4: genes ifpA,agfA e invA. Observou-se a resistência das estirpes somente ao antibiótico imipenen. Entre as 36 estirpes de Salmonella spp. isoladas, todas foram consideradas produtoras de biofilme in vitro, sendo que 69% destas, apresentaram-se como fortes produtoras, 25% como moderadas, e apenas 6% como fracas produtoras. O método Agar Vermelho Congo não se mostrou eficiente para teste presuntivo de produção de biofilme para estirpes de Salmonella spp. Não foi evidenciado o gene blaKPC nas estirpes de Salmonella spp. isoladas na presente pesquisa. / According to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO, 2013), the world consumption of meat of chicken has been higher significantly in the last decades. On the other hand, the concern of the food producers with the safety of their products also has increased in the same proportion. During the steps of the slaughter operation in general, cross contamination are the main causes of pathogenic microorganisms dissemination in the obtained products and the causes of gastroenteritis in the consumer. Species of the Enterobacter Salmonella fall as the highest risks of this kind of disease, due to their association with countless outbreaks which occurred worldwide, after the consumption of these products. Some enterobacter have a blaKPC gene, which codes for the carbapenemase enzyme that confers resistance to carbapenems antibiotics, aggravating the situation. Some virulence factors found in this bacteria genes can also be associated to the ability of adherence and the formation of biofilms in inert surfaces, making it difficult the operations of sanitation in the processing lines. Thus, the present research aimed to verify the capacity of Salmonella spp. strains isolated from aviary and slaughter line of chicken in a fridge of Rio Grande do Sul state to produce biofilms and be resistant to carbapenems antibiotics. In the evaluation of biofilm production, it was used the polyethylene microplates and capsule production technique according to Stepanovic et al. (2004) and Rodrigues et al. (2006), respectively. The virulence factors of salmonella were researched, represented by the genes IpfA, agfA, sefA, invA, hilA, avrA, sopE, sivH, e spvC, using the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method described by Borges et al. (2013). The lineages were submitted to the carbapenems antibiotic resistence test by the disk diffusion method with carbapenems according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute-CLSI (2010), and the research of the resistance to carbapenems gene blaKCP, by the strains Salmonella spp.: profile 1: genes ifpA, agfA, invA and avrA.; profile 2: genes ifpA, agfA, sefA, invA and avrA; profile 3: genes invA and avrA; profile 4: genes ifpA, agfA and invA. It was observed the resistance of the strains only to the imipenen antibiotic. Among the other 36 cultures of Salmonella spp. isolated, all were considered to produce biofilm in vitro, of which 69% were strong producers, 25% moderate, and only 6% were low producers. The method Congo Red Agar was not efficient to the presumptive test of biofilm production for the Salmonella spp. strains. It was not evidenced the gene blaKPC in Salmonella spp. strains isolates in this research.