title: Disorganization of cell division of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus by a component of tea (Camellia sinensis): a study by electron microscopy.
abstract: A component of aqueous extracts of green tea (Camellia sinensis), known to reverse methicillin-resistance in staphylococci, causes extensive morphological changes in methicillin-resistant but not in methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus. Clumps of partly divided cocci, consisting of up to 14 individuals, with thickened internal but normal external cell walls were seen by electron microscopy in cultures of methicillin-resistant S. aureus grown in the presence of the active principle. The morphological changes observed were consistent with selective inhibition of penicillin-binding proteins.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Royal Free, London, UK. j.hamilton-miller@rfhsm.ac.uk
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hamilton-Miller
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shah
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006602:Hexosyltransferases; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D002267:Muramoylpentapeptide Carboxypeptidase / Q000378:metabolism; D046915:Penicillin-Binding Proteins; D010458:Peptidyl Transferases; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013045:Species Specificity; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013662:Tea / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D046915:Penicillin-Binding Proteins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013662:Tea; D010458:Peptidyl Transferases; D006602:Hexosyltransferases; D002267:Muramoylpentapeptide Carboxypeptidase