Host-induced cell wall remodeling impairs opsonophagocytosis of Staphylococcus aureus by neutrophils.

ABSTRACT: The bacterial pathogen Staphylococcus aureus responds to the host environment by increasing the thickness of its cell wall. However, the impact of cell wall thickening on susceptibility to host defenses is unclear. Using bacteria incubated in human serum, we show that host-induced increases in cell wall thickness led to a reduction in the exposure of bound antibody and complement and a corresponding reduction in phagocytosis and killing by neutrophils. The exposure of opsonins bound to protein antigens or lipoteichoic acid (LTA) was most significantly reduced, while opsonization by IgG against wall teichoic acid or peptidoglycan was largely unaffected. Partial digestion of accumulated cell wall using the enzyme lysostaphin restored opsonin exposure and promoted phagocytosis and kill

SUBMITTER: Ledger EVK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11323798 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature