The Capsular Polysaccharide Obstructs Wall Teichoic Acid Functions in Staphylococcus aureus
Abstract Background The cell envelope of Staphylococcus aureus contains 2 major secondary cell wall glycopolymers: capsular polysaccharide (CP) and wall teichoic acid (WTA). Both CP and WTA are attached to the cell wall and play distinct roles in S. aureus colonization, pathogenesis, and bacterial e...
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Veröffentlicht in: | The Journal of infectious diseases 2024-11, Vol.230 (5), p.1253-1261 |
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Format: | Artikel |
Sprache: | eng |
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Zusammenfassung: | Abstract
Background
The cell envelope of Staphylococcus aureus contains 2 major secondary cell wall glycopolymers: capsular polysaccharide (CP) and wall teichoic acid (WTA). Both CP and WTA are attached to the cell wall and play distinct roles in S. aureus colonization, pathogenesis, and bacterial evasion of host immune defenses. We aimed to investigate whether CP interferes with WTA-mediated properties.
Methods
Strains with natural heterogeneous expression of CP, strains with homogeneous high CP expression, and CP-deficient strains were compared regarding WTA-dependent phage binding, cell adhesion, IgG deposition, and virulence in vivo.
Results
WTA-mediated phage adsorption, specific antibody deposition, and cell adhesion were negatively correlated with CP expression. WTA, but not CP, enhanced the bacterial burden in a mouse abscess model, while CP overexpression resulted in intermediate virulence in vivo.
Conclusions
CP protects the bacteria from WTA-dependent opsonization and phage binding. This protection comes at the cost of diminished adhesion to host cells. The highly complex regulation and mostly heterogeneous expression of CP has probably evolved to ensure the survival and optimal physiological adaptation of the bacterial population as a whole.
Capsule and wall teichoic acids shape the cell envelope of Staphylococcus aureus and are key virulence determinants of the bacterium. We show the capsule obstructs major functions of wall teichoic acids such as cell adhesion, phage absorption, and IgG deposition. |
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ISSN: | 0022-1899 1537-6613 1537-6613 |
DOI: | 10.1093/infdis/jiae188 |