Wall Teichoic Acids Facilitate the Release of Toxins from the Surface of Staphylococcus aureus
Tarcisio Brignoli, Edward J. A. Douglas, Seána Duggan, Olayemi G. Fagunloye, Rajan P. Adhikari, M. Javad Aman, Ruth C. Massey
Abstract
The production and release of cytolytic toxins is a critical aspect for the pathogenicity of many bacterial pathogens. In this study, we demonstrate a role for wall teichoic acids, molecules that are anchored to the peptidoglycan of the bacterial cell wall, in the release of toxins from S. aureus cells into the extracellular environment. Our findings suggest that this effect is mediated by a gradient of electrostatic charge which the presence of the negatively charged WTA molecules create across the cell envelope. This work brings an entirely new aspect to our understanding of the cytotoxicity of S. aureus and demonstrates a further means by which this major human pathogen can adapt its pathogenic capabilities.