Structural variation of wall teichoic acid polymers and its role for colonization capacity, virulence, and evolution of Staphylococcus epidermidis
Metabolism, Biochemistry and Genetics of Microorganisms
Final Report Abstract
Staphylococcus epidermidis is a major member of human skin and nasal microbiomes and a frequent cause of opportunistic infections. Some clonal lineages are strongly overrepresented in healthcare-associated infections but reasons for the particular colonization, spreading, and virulence characteristic of these clones have remained unknown. Many S. epidermidis infections are difficult to treat because most strains harbor the mobile genetic element (MGE) SCCmec, which confers resistance to most beta-lactam antibiotics. SCCmec can be transferred to the aggressive pathogen Staphylococcus aureus by transducing phages, which promotes the evolution of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). However, such phages are usually strictly species-specific and it has remained mysterious how they accomplish the transfer of MGEs from S. epidermidis to S. aureus. Our research groups in Shanghai and Tübingen collaborate for many years on the biology and pathogenicity of staphylococci. The project partner Tübingen has reported many studies demonstrating that transducing phages use the species-specific structure of wall teichoic acid (WTA), a staphylococcal surface glycopolymer, for recognition of cognate host bacteria.
Publications
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Wall Teichoic Acid in Staphylococcus aureus Host Interaction. Trends in Microbiology, 28(12), 985-998.
van Dalen, Rob; Peschel, Andreas & van Sorge, Nina M.
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Staphylococcus epidermidis clones express Staphylococcus aureus-type wall teichoic acid to shift from a commensal to pathogen lifestyle. Nature Microbiology, 6(6), 757-768.
Du, Xin; Larsen, Jesper; Li, Min; Walter, Axel; Slavetinsky, Christoph; Both, Anna; Sanchez, Carballo Patricia M.; Stegger, Marc; Lehmann, Esther; Liu, Yao; Liu, Junlan; Slavetinsky, Jessica; Duda, Katarzyna A.; Krismer, Bernhard; Heilbronner, Simon; Weidenmaier, Christopher; Mayer, Christoph; Rohde, Holger; Winstel, Volker & Peschel, Andreas
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Staphylococcus epidermidis Phages Transduce Antimicrobial Resistance Plasmids and Mobilize Chromosomal Islands. mSphere, 6(3).
Fišarová, Lenka; Botka, Tibor; Du, Xin; Mašlaňová, Ivana; Bárdy, Pavol; Pantůček, Roman; Benešík, Martin; Roudnický, Pavel; Winstel, Volker; Larsen, Jesper; Rosenstein, Ralf; Peschel, Andreas & Doškař, Jiří
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Invasive Staphylococcus epidermidis uses a unique processive wall teichoic acid glycosyltransferase to evade immune recognition. Science Advances, 9(47).
Guo, Yinglan; Du, Xin; Krusche, Janes; Beck, Christian; Ali, Sara; Walter, Axel; Winstel, Volker; Mayer, Christoph; Codée, Jeroen D. C.; Peschel, Andreas & Stehle, Thilo
