Cephalosporins protein conjugates

Penicillins and cephalosporins bind irreversibly to serum albumin. It has been shown that drug-protein conjugates result from the aminolysis of the /3-lactam bond by the e-amino group of lysine residues in the protein (Fig. 5.1, Pathway e). The bound penicilloyl group appears to be the major antigenic determinant of penicillin allergy [145-148],... 

The only drugs which in fact have been shown to be capable of reacting covalently with proteins in vitro and for which such conjugation reactions in vivo appear to be of marked immunologic significance are the jS-lactam antibiotics, penicillins and cephalosporins (for a recent review, see Dewdney 1977). 

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