Open AccessDisorganization of cell division of methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus by a component of tea ( Camellia sinensis ): a study by electron microscopy
Author(s) -
HamiltonMiller J.M.T,
Shah S
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1999.tb13698.x
Subject(s) - camellia sinensis , staphylococcus aureus , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , penicillin , theaceae , electron microscope , methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus , bacteria , botany , antibiotics , genetics , physics , optics
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.