The peptidoglycan layers of many gram-positive bacteria are densely functionalized with
anionic glycopolymers known as wall teichoic acids (WTAs). These polymers play crucial …

Lactobacilli have been crucial for the production of fermented products for centuries. They
are also members of the mutualistic microbiota present in the human gastrointestinal and …

The cell wall is a vital and multi-functional part of bacterial cells. For Staphylococcus aureus,
an important human bacterial pathogen, surface proteins and cell wall polymers are …

One of the major differences between Gram-negative and Gram-positive organisms is the
presence or absence of an outer membrane (Figure 1). In Gram-negative organisms, the …

The biological diversity of the unicellular bacteria—whether assessed by shape, food,
metabolism, or ecological niche—surely rivals (if not exceeds) that of the multicellular …

Comparative genomics is the cornerstone of identification of gene functions. The immense
number of living organisms precludes experimental identification of functions except in a …

Staphylococci and most other Gram-positive bacteria incorporate complex teichoic acid (TA)
polymers into their cell envelopes. Several crucial roles in Staphylococcus aureus fitness …

Daptomycin is a cyclic lipopeptide antibiotic, which was discovered in 1987 and entered the
market in 2003. To date, it serves as last resort antibiotic to treat complicated skin infections …

Methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus depends on the production of mecA, which
encodes penicillin-binding protein 2A (PBP2A), an acquired peptidoglycan transpeptidase …

The cell wall of Staphylococcus aureus is characterized by an extremely high degree of
cross-linking within its peptidoglycan (PGN). Penicillin-binding protein 4 (PBP4) is required …