A compound represented by formula (I), formula (II), or formula (IV), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; and a pharmaceutical composition containing the compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, for use in inhibiting metallo-?-lactamases.

Caged luciferin-based probes become a luciferase substrate emitting bioluminescence upon ?-lactamase/esterase activation. The inclusion of a cephalosporin moiety renders the probe capable of being used for the detection of a wide-range of ?-lactamases and ?-lactamase-expressing bacteria. Embodiments of a rapid high-throughput assay for the identification of ?-lactamase-expressing bacteria is made possible by the use of such probes. In some embodiments the cephalosporin is substituted by a carbapenem moiety to generate carbapenem-caged luciferin carbapenem-cleavable probes capable of being used for the detection of a wide-range of carbapenem-expressing bacteria. Accordingly embodiments of a rapid high-throughput assay for the identification of carbapenem-expressing bacteria is made possible by the use of these probes.

-Lactamase substrates and methods for using the substrates to detect -lactamase diagnose tuberculosis.

-Lactamase substrates and methods for using the substrates to detect -lactamase diagnose tuberculosis.