Final answer:
Antibiotics are produced by fungi and bacteria, and beta-lactamase is a bacteria-produced enzyme that degrades antibiotics, leading to antibiotic resistance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The species of microbes that produce antibiotics are mainly fungi and bacteria. These organisms release antibiotics as secondary metabolites, which can inhibit the growth of or destroy other microorganisms competitively. One of the most famous antibiotics is penicillin, which is a fungal product. However, the extensive use of antibiotics has led to the development of antibiotic resistance in some bacteria.
Beta-lactamase is an enzyme produced by some bacteria that can degrade antibiotics, specifically those in the beta-lactam family. These enzymes cleave the beta-lactam ring within the antibiotic molecule, rendering the antibiotic ineffective. As a result, bacteria that produce beta-lactamase can resist the effects of beta-lactam antibiotics like penicillin and cephalosporins, posing significant challenges in clinical treatments of bacterial infections.