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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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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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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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nm991
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