Wall Teichoic Acid in Staphylococcus aureus Host Interaction.

Staphylococcus aureus is a major opportunistic human pathogen that frequently causes disease in community and hospital settings. Nasal colonization is an important risk factor for developing invasive disease. Cell wall-associated glycopolymers called wall teichoic acids (WTAs) contribute to efficient nasal colonization by S. aureus. In addition, WTAs are key targets of the host immune system due to their accessibility and high abundance on the S. aureus cell surface. In this review we discuss the new insights into interactions between the host and S. aureus WTA and the implications of these interactions for preventative and therapeutic approaches against S. aureus-mediated disease.