A β-lactam ring is a four-membered lactam (a cyclic amide) that forms the core structure of several antibiotic classes, including penicillins and cephalosporins. Its presence is critical for the antibacterial activity of these antibiotics by inhibiting cell wall synthesis.
Penicillin: A class of antibiotics that contain a β-lactam ring and target bacterial cell wall synthesis.
Cephalosporin: Another class of β-lactam antibiotics that are frequently used to treat a variety of infections.
β-Lactamase: An enzyme produced by certain bacteria that deactivates β-lactam antibiotics by breaking open the β-lactam ring.