title: Role of teichoic acids in Staphylococcus aureus nasal colonization, a major risk factor in nosocomial infections.
abstract: Colonization of the anterior nares in approximately 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.
authors.affiliation: Cellular and Molecular Microbiology, Medical Microbiology and Hygiene Department, University of Tübingen, Elfriede-Aulhorn-Strasse 6, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Weidenmaier
authors.forename: John F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Kokai-Kun
authors.forename: Sascha A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Kristian
authors.forename: Tanya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chanturiya
authors.forename: Hubert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kalbacher
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gross
authors.forename: Graeme
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nicholson
authors.forename: Birgid
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Neumeister
authors.forename: James J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Mond
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Peschel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000382:microbiology*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000382:microbiology*; D051381:Rats; D012307:Risk Factors; D016205:Sigmodontinae; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D013682:Teichoic Acids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D013682:Teichoic Acids