Effect of teicoplanin and vancomycin on Staphylococcus aureus ultrastructure
Filice, G.; Lanzarini, P.; Orsolini, P.; Soldini, L.; Perversi, L.; Carnevale, G.; Comolli, G.; Castelli, F.
Microbiologica 13(3): 231-237
1990
ISSN/ISBN: 0391-5352 PMID: 1703262 Document Number: 360846
Morphological changes induced by teicoplanin and vancomycin on Staphylococcus aureus have been comparatively evaluated. The most pronounced structural damages were found on the cell wall which was uniformly thickened on bacteria exposed to teicoplanin while it was of irregular thickness and often absent around the cells in those exposed to vancomycin. The inhibitory action of teicoplanin on proteoglycan polymerization but not on nucleic acid and protein synthesis indicates that the effect in the wall is due to the accumulation at this level of proteoglycan soluble precursors continuously produced by the cell. The different effects induced by vanco mycin on cell wall morphology can also be related to the compatibility of this antibiotic in altering cytoplasmatic membrane function and ribonucleic acid synthesis.