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. 1983 Jan;39(1):336–343. doi: 10.1128/iai.39.1.336-343.1983

Lipoteichoic acid is the major cell wall component responsible for surface hydrophobicity of group A streptococci.

H Miörner, G Johansson, G Kronvall
PMCID: PMC347944  PMID: 6337099

Abstract

The contribution of lipoteichoic acid (LTA) to the hydrophobic surface properties of group A streptococci was investigated in aqueous dextran-polyethylene glycol two-phase systems. Enzymatic digestions were performed to characterize the hydrophobic surface structure. The results obtained indicated that LTA is a major factor responsible for the hydrophobic character of the cell surface of group A streptococci. This was further supported by the similarity of partition in polymer two-phase systems between whole group A streptococci and tritiated LTA extracted from a group A streptococcal strain. Surface LTA was also determined on intact organisms by a new method measuring the adsorption of antibodies to LTA to the bacterial surface. A correlation was found between the content of surface LTA and the hydrophobicity of the group A streptococci. We conclude that surface-associated LTA is the major factor determining surface hydrophobicity of group A streptococci.

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Selected References

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