Staphylococcus aureus - cell wall envelope assembly

Staphylococcus aureus is a microbial inhabitant of the human skin and nares. Breaches in epithelial barriers as well as defects in host immunity allow this normally commensal organism to cause a wide range of human infections. Among these are localized skin and soft tissue abscesses, pneumonia, endocarditis, osteomylitis, and septicemia. The cell wall envelope of S. aureus and other Gram-positive bacteria is a complex protective surface organelle, composed of peptidoglycan, proteins, polysaccharides and secondary wall polymers. Many anti-staphylococcal therapies inhibit cell wall biosynthesis or destroy the physiological functions of the envelope in maintaining bacterial integrity and mediating evasion of host immune responses. These therapies include small molecules such as ß-lactams (i.e. methicillin) and glycopeptides (i.e. vancomycin) as well as lysostaphin, a bacteriocin that degrades the bacterial peptidoglycan layer.

For further details on the work of this research group, please see Dr Gründling's page on the Centre for Molecular Microbiology and Infection website.