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S taphylococcus aureus subverts cutaneous defense by d ‐alanylation of teichoic acids
Author(s) -
Simanski Maren,
Gläser Regine,
Köten Bente,
MeyerHoffert Ulf,
Wanner Stefanie,
Weidenmaier Christopher,
Peschel Andreas,
Harder Jürgen
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
experimental dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.108
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1600-0625
pISSN - 0906-6705
DOI - 10.1111/exd.12114
Subject(s) - teichoic acid , staphylococcus aureus , microbiology and biotechnology , antimicrobial peptides , cathelicidin , innate immune system , skin infection , biology , bacteria , antimicrobial , chemistry , immune system , immunology , genetics
The G ram‐positive bacterium S taphylococcus aureus is a frequent skin colonizer that often causes severe skin infections. It has been reported that neutralizing the negatively charged bacterial surface through the incorporation of d ‐alanine in its teichoic acids confers reduced susceptibility of S . aureus towards cationic antimicrobial peptides ( AMP s). Using a S . aureus strain deficient in d ‐alanylated teichoic acids ( dlt A mutant), we demonstrate that d ‐alanylation of its surface reduces the susceptibility of S . aureus to skin‐derived AMP s such as RN ase 7 and human beta‐defensins. This is accompanied by a higher killing activity of skin extracts towards the S . aureus dlt A mutant as well as towards clinical isolates expressing lower levels of dlt A . We conclude that modulation of cell envelope d ‐alanylation may help S . aureus to persist on human skin through evasion of cutaneous innate defense provided by cationic skin‐derived AMP s.