Role of teichoic acids in Staphylococcus aureus nasal colonization, a major risk factor in nosocomial infections (original) (raw)

Nature Medicine volume 10, pages 243–245 (2004)Cite this article

Abstract

Colonization of the anterior nares in ∼37% of the population is a major risk factor for severe Staphylococcus aureus infections. Here we show that wall teichoic acid (WTA), a surface-exposed staphylococcal polymer, is essential for nasal colonization and mediates interaction with human nasal epithelial cells. WTA-deficient mutants were impaired in their adherence to nasal cells, and were completely unable to colonize cotton rat nares. This study describes the first essential factor for S. aureus nasal colonization.

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Figure 1: WTA mediates interaction with nasal epithelial cells.

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Acknowledgements

We thank F. Götz, G.W. Fischer and I.B. Autenrieth for support and helpful discussions; V. Augsburger, R. Oueslati and J. Schnaut for technical assistance; and S.E. Cramton and W. Vollmer for critically reading the manuscript. This work was supported by grants from the German Research Council (SPP1047 and FOR 449/T2) and from Biosynexus to A.P.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medical Microbiology and Hygiene Department, Cellular and Molecular Microbiology, University of Tübingen, Elfriede-Aulhorn-Strasse 6, Tübingen, 72076, Germany
    Christopher Weidenmaier & Andreas Peschel
  2. Biosynexus Inc., 9119 Gaither Rd., Gaithersburg, 20877, Maryland, USA
    John F Kokai-Kun, Tanya Chanturiya & James J Mond
  3. Department of Transfusion Medicine, University of Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Strasse 4/1, Tübingen, 72076, Germany
    Sascha A Kristian & Birgid Neumeister
  4. Microbial Genetics, University of Tübingen, Waldhäuser Strasse 70/8, Tübingen, 72076, Germany
    Sascha A Kristian & Matthias Gross
  5. Medical and Natural Sciences Research Center, University of Tübingen, Ob dem Himmelreich 7, Tübingen, 72074, Germany
    Hubert Kalbacher
  6. Organic Chemistry Department, University of Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 18, Tübingen, 72076, Germany
    Graeme Nicholson

Authors

  1. Christopher Weidenmaier
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  2. John F Kokai-Kun
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  3. Sascha A Kristian
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  4. Tanya Chanturiya
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  5. Hubert Kalbacher
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  6. Matthias Gross
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  7. Graeme Nicholson
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  8. Birgid Neumeister
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  9. James J Mond
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  10. Andreas Peschel
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Correspondence toAndreas Peschel.

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Weidenmaier, C., Kokai-Kun, J., Kristian, S. et al. Role of teichoic acids in Staphylococcus aureus nasal colonization, a major risk factor in nosocomial infections.Nat Med 10, 243–245 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/nm991

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