Teichoic acids (TAs) are major wall and membrane components of most gram-positive bacteria. With few exceptions, they are polymers of glycerol-phosphate or ribitol-phosphate to which are attached glycosyl and d-alanyl ester residues. Wall TA is attached to peptidoglycan via a linkage unit, whereas lipoteichoic acid is attached to glycolipid intercalated in the membrane. Together with peptidoglycan, these polymers make up a polyanionic matrix that functions in (i) cation homeostasis; (ii) trafficking of ions, nutrients, proteins, and antibiotics; (iii) regulation of autolysins; and (iv) presentation of envelope proteins. The esterification of TAs with d-alanyl esters provides a means of modulating the net anionic charge, determining the cationic binding capacity, and displaying cations in the wall. This review addresses the structures and functions of d-alanyl-TAs, the d-alanylation system encoded by the dlt operon, and the roles of TAs in cell growth. The importance of dlt in the physiology of many organisms is illustrated by the variety of mutant phenotypes. In addition, advances in our understanding of d-alanyl ester function in virulence and host-mediated responses have been made possible through targeted mutagenesis of dlt. Studies of the mechanism of d-alanylation have identified two potential targets of antibacterial action and provided possible screening reactions for designing novel agents targeted to d-alanyl-TA synthesis.

A Continuum of Anionic Charge: Structures and Functions of d-Alanyl-Teichoic Acids in Gram-Positive Bacteria

The use and potential commercial application of biosurfactants in the medical field has increased during the past decade. Their antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral activities make them relevant molecules for applications in combating many diseases and as therapeutic agents. In addition, their role as anti-adhesive agents against several pathogens indicates their utility as suitable anti-adhesive coating agents for medical insertional materials leading to a reduction in a large number of hospital infections without the use of synthetic drugs and chemicals. This review looks at medicinal and therapeutic perspectives on biosurfactant applications.

https://repositorium.sdum.uminho.pt/bitstream/1822/5101/1/rodrigues_JAC_2006%5b1%5d.pdf

Biosurfactants: potential applications in medicine

In this review, antimicrobials from a range of plant, animal, and microbial sources are reviewed along with their potential applications in food systems. Chemical and biochemical antimicrobial compounds derived from these natural sources and their activity against a range of pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms pertinent to food, together with their effects on food organoleptic properties, are outlined. Factors influencing the antimicrobial activity of such agents are discussed including extraction methods, molecular weight, and agent origin. These issues are considered in conjunction with the latest developments in the quantification of the minimum inhibitory (and noninhibitory) concentration of antimicrobials and/or their components. Natural antimicrobials can be used alone or in combination with other novel preservation technologies to facilitate the replacement of traditional approaches. Research priorities and future trends focusing on the impact of product formulation, intrinsic product parameters, and extrinsic storage parameters on the design of efficient food preservation systems are also presented.

/pdf/application-of-natural-antimicrobials-for-food-preservation-36eqqgpyzt.pdf

Application of Natural Antimicrobials for Food Preservation

http://cfile205.uf.daum.net/attach/187EA21F4B7E045F0B4344

Epidermal Barrier Dysfunction in Atopic Dermatitis

https://www.jidonline.org/article/S0022-202X(15)32393-9/pdf

Stratum Corneum Defensive Functions: An Integrated View

Sphingosines (precursors and degeneration products of complex sphingolipids) are mediators in membrane second-messenger cascades and in a wide variety of functions in eukaryotic cells. Sphingosines are also lethal for gram-positive microorganisms. In addition to its direct effect, sphinganine is here reported to affect the adherence of Streptococcus mitis to buccal epithelial cells and of Staphylococcus aureus to nasal mucosal cells after incubation for 90 min at 37 degrees C. When the bacteria were pretreated with 8.1, 16.2, 32.5, or (for Strep. mitis) 65 microM sphinganine for 60 min at 37 degrees C, adherence counts were reduced for Staph. aureus by 27, 37, and 60% and for Strep. mitis by 19, 44, 54, and 73%, respectively (p < 0.001). In contrast, pretreatment of buccal cells with 81.2 microM lipid increased adherence by 14% (p < 0.01), but no change occurred at either 16.2 or 325 microM lipid. These results further demonstrate the double-edged ability of sphingosines to regulate cellular activities and their potential as multifunctional therapeutic agents for infectious diseases.

Inhibition of microbial adherence by sphinganine.

Summary. Under uniform experimental conditions, different degrees of selective attachment of Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans to epithelial cells of the labium majus, the labium minus, and the vagina were compared and contrasted with those found in studies with cells of the buccal and nasal mucosa and forearm skin by a novel analysis of adherence density. For both micro-organisms, the larger, rougher cells of the labium majus gave the highest adherence scores matched only by the interaction of S. aureus with fully keratinised nasal epithelial cells. Increasing acidity to pH 3.5 enhanced microbial adherence to vaginal cells. Menstruation also influenced attachment; highest densities were reached between the third and fourth weeks of the cycle. Autogenous ribitol teichoic acid was found to block the attachment of S. aureus to labium majus and labium minus cells by 76% and 81 YO respectively, and to vaginal cells by 66%. Adherence is considered to be an important attribute of vulvar ecology and may be a determinant of infectious disease.

/pdf/microbial-adherence-to-vulvar-epithelial-cells-1vbtkikwyf.pdf

Microbial adherence to vulvar epithelial cells

To investigate the early events of opportunistic infection in AIDS, microorganisms inhabiting the cheek and groin skin and nasal vestibule of 19 male HIV-infected patients in various stages of illness were identified and quantified quarterly for 1 y. During the course of their infection, HIV-positive patients tended to decrease their carriage of microorganisms, by populations on the skin and by fewer species on all sites, especially the groin. Nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus was 56 per cent, compared to 22 per cent in healthy subjects. About 35 per cent of HIV-positive patients carried Candida albicans in the oral cavity, compared to 5 per cent in HIV-negative subjects. Enhancement of staphylococcal adherence to nasal and cutaneous cells in HIV-positive subjects was, in thigh cells, related to the severity of infection. The sequelae of HIV-infection seems to include hazardous alterations of the epithelial habitats of microorganisms. Keywords: AIDS; HIV; Staphylococcus aureus ; Candida albicans ; Skin flora.

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.3109/08910609109140259

From HIV Infection to AIDS: Changes in the Microbial Ecology of Skin and Nose

Microbial Adherence to Volval Epithelial Cells

/pdf/staphylococcus-aureus-adherence-to-vulvar-epithelial-cells-4z5kwx0ohn.pdf

Staphylococcus Aureus Adherence to Vulvar Epithelial Cells

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