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Updated: May 8, 2026
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Isolation and Preparation of Bacterial Cell Walls for Compositional Analysis by Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography
Published on: January 15, 2014
Wall teichoic acids of gram-positive bacteria
Stephanie Brown1, John P Santa Maria, Suzanne Walker
1Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115;
Annual Review of Microbiology
|September 13, 2013
Summary
Wall teichoic acids (WTAs) are vital polymers in gram-positive bacteria, influencing cell shape, division, and antibiotic resistance. Targeting WTA biosynthesis offers a promising strategy for developing new therapies against resistant infections.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Bacterial Cell Wall Biology
- Glycopolymers
Background:
- Gram-positive bacteria possess peptidoglycan layers decorated with anionic glycopolymers called wall teichoic acids (WTAs).
- WTAs are essential for bacterial physiology, including cell shape determination and regulation of cell division.
- These polymers significantly contribute to bacterial pathogenesis and the development of antibiotic resistance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a comprehensive overview of wall teichoic acid (WTA) structure and biosynthesis.
- To review current research on the diverse biological roles of WTAs.
- To identify knowledge gaps and discuss future research directions concerning WTAs.
Main Methods:
- Literature review and synthesis of existing research on WTA structure, biosynthesis, and function.
- Analysis of studies investigating the roles of WTAs in bacterial physiology and pathogenesis.
- Exploration of potential therapeutic strategies targeting WTA biosynthesis.
Main Results:
- WTAs are critical for maintaining cell integrity and are implicated in host-pathogen interactions.
- Understanding WTA biosynthesis pathways is key to deciphering their multifaceted roles.
- WTAs are directly linked to resistance mechanisms against various antibiotics.
Conclusions:
- WTAs are essential components of the gram-positive bacterial cell envelope with significant implications for physiology and virulence.
- Further research into WTA structure-function relationships is warranted.
- Targeting WTA biosynthesis presents a viable strategy for developing novel antibiotics to combat drug-resistant bacterial infections.
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