Wall teichoic acids are dispensable for anchoring the PNAG exopolysaccharide to the Staphylococcus aureus cell surface

• DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.2007/013292-0
• Publication Date: 2008-02-29T00:43:38Z
• Authors: Marta Vergara-Iri...; Tomas Maira-Litrán; Nekane Merino; Gerald B. Pier; José R. Penadés; Iñigo Lasa
• Keywords: Teichoic acid; Cell envelope

Biofilm formation in Staphylococcus aureus is usually associated with the production of poly-N-acetylglucosamine (PNAG) exopolysaccharide, synthesized by proteins encoded icaADBC operon. PNAG a linear β-(1-6)-linked N-acetylglucosaminoglycan that has to be partially deacetylated and consequently positively charged order bacterial cell surfaces. Here, we investigated whether attachment surfaces mediated ionic interactions negative charge wall teichoic acids (WTAs), which represent most abundant polyanions Gram-positive envelope. We generated WTA-deficient mutants in-frame deletion tagO gene two genetically unrelated S. strains. The ΔtagO were more sensitive high temperatures, showed higher degree aggregation, had reduced initial adherence abiotic capacity form biofilms under both steady-state flow conditions. However, levels as well strength interaction surface similar between their corresponding wild-type Furthermore, double ΔicaADBC displayed aggregative phenotype single mutants, indicating not responsible for behaviour observed mutants. Overall, absence WTAs little effect on or anchoring surface, but did affect biofilm-forming capacity, temperature sensitivity/stability aureus.