Distribution of WGA-binding sites on the surface of clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus.

Distribution of wheat germ agglutinin (WGA)-binding sites on the surface of clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus was examined by WGA-gold. Labelings on three methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) isolates were heavier than those on three methicillin-resistant (MRSA) isolates and the 209P (MSSA) strain. These results were confirmed by an alkaline phosphatase-WGA assay. The WGA-binding on the MRSA was consistently poor, whereas wide ranging diversity was observed in WGA-binding among the MSSA. These results strongly suggest diversities in not only distribution, but also the quantity of WGA-binding carbohydrates exposed on the surface of the organisms.