Triton X-100-induced lipoteichoic acid release is correlated with the methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus

We previously reported that Triton X-100 (TRX) reduced methicillin resistan ce in Staphylococcus aureus, although the degree of reduction varied among strains. One of the biological effects of TRX on S. aureus cells was enhanc ement of lipoteichoic acid (LTA) release. We investigated the correlation b etween the amount of LTA released and the degree of reduction in methicilli n resistance induced by TRX. The strains showing the greatest reduction of methicillin resistance released the largest amount of LTA, compared to thos e showing slight or moderate reduction. A mutant whose resistance was not a ffected by TRX did not increase its release of LTA. These findings suggest that LTA release is associated with a reduction in methicillin resistance i n the presence of TRX. (C) 2000 Federation of European Microbiological Soci eties. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.