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Lipoteichoic acid deficiency permits normal growth but impairs virulence of Streptococcus pneumoniae

Author

Listed:
  • Nathalie Heß

    (Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University of Greifswald)

  • Franziska Waldow

    (Priority Area Infections, Research Center Borstel, Leibniz-Center for Medicine and Biosciences)

  • Thomas P. Kohler

    (Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University of Greifswald)

  • Manfred Rohde

    (HZI - Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research)

  • Bernd Kreikemeyer

    (Institute of Medical Microbiology, Virology and Hygiene, Rostock University)

  • Alejandro Gómez-Mejia

    (Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University of Greifswald)

  • Torsten Hain

    (Justus-Liebig University of Giessen)

  • Dominik Schwudke

    (Priority Area Infections, Research Center Borstel, Leibniz-Center for Medicine and Biosciences)

  • Waldemar Vollmer

    (Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Newcastle University)

  • Sven Hammerschmidt

    (Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University of Greifswald)

  • Nicolas Gisch

    (Priority Area Infections, Research Center Borstel, Leibniz-Center for Medicine and Biosciences)

Abstract

Teichoic acid (TA), a crucial cell wall constituent of the pathobiont Streptococcus pneumoniae, is bound to peptidoglycan (wall teichoic acid, WTA) or to membrane glycolipids (lipoteichoic acid, LTA). Both TA polymers share a common precursor synthesis pathway, but differ in the final transfer of the TA chain to either peptidoglycan or a glycolipid. Here, we show that LTA exhibits a different linkage conformation compared to WTA, and identify TacL (previously known as RafX) as a putative lipoteichoic acid ligase required for LTA assembly. Pneumococcal mutants deficient in TacL lack LTA and show attenuated virulence in mouse models of acute pneumonia and systemic infections, although they grow normally in culture. Hence, LTA is important for S. pneumoniae to establish systemic infections, and TacL represents a potential target for antimicrobial drug development.

Suggested Citation

  • Nathalie Heß & Franziska Waldow & Thomas P. Kohler & Manfred Rohde & Bernd Kreikemeyer & Alejandro Gómez-Mejia & Torsten Hain & Dominik Schwudke & Waldemar Vollmer & Sven Hammerschmidt & Nicolas Gisch, 2017. "Lipoteichoic acid deficiency permits normal growth but impairs virulence of Streptococcus pneumoniae," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:8:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-017-01720-z
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-01720-z
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