Disorganization of cell division of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus by a component of tea (Camellia sinensis): a study by electron microscopy

A component of aqueous extracts of green tea (Camellia sinensis), known to reverse methicillin-resistance in staphylococci, causes extensive morpholog ical changes in methicillin-resistant but not in methicillin-sensitive Stap hylococcus aureus. Clumps of partly divided cocci: consisting of up to 14 i ndividuals, with thickened internal but normal external cell walls were see n by electron microscopy in cultures of methicillin-resistant S. aureus gro wn in the presence of the active principle. The morphological changes obser ved were consistent with selective inhibition of penicillin-binding protein s. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.