Determination of cell wall teichoic acid structure of staphylococci by rapid chemical and serological screening methods.

Investigations of cell wall teichoic acid structures of various staphylococci were carried out by a rapid method based on the gas-liquid chromatographic separation of products obtained after treatment of phenol-extracted cells with 70% hydrofluoric acid. In most of the strains teichoic acids of the poly(glycerolphosphate) and/or poly(ribitol-phosphate) type were found. Teichoic acids of the poly(glycerolphosphate-N-acetylglucosaminephosphate) type and polymers consisting of N-acetylglucosaminephosphate were present in few strains. The results obtained by the rapid chemical screening method were compared with data obtained by serological analysis of teichoic acid structures using specific antisera and the lectin wheat germ agglutinin. Teichoic acid components occurring in low concentrations could only be detected with the chemical and not with the serological method. A number of strains of species of the genus Staphylococcus have been studied using these rapid methods. With a few exceptions, the teichoic acid structure proved to be a constant marker within a given species.