Anti-Teichoic Acid Antibody (ATAAb)

Teichoic acids are found within the cell wall of Gram-positive bacteria such as species in the genera Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Bacillus, Clostridium, Corynebacterium and Listeria, and appear to extend to the surface of the peptidoglycan layer. Teichoic acids are not found in Gram-negative bacteria. They can be covalently linked to N-acetylmuramic acid of the peptidoglycan layer, to the lipids of the cytoplasmic membrane, or to a terminal D-alanine in the tetrapeptide crosslinkage between N-acetylmuramic acid units.

Ribitol teichoic acid is an important component of Staphylococcus aureus cell wall. It is antigenic and precipitating antibodies are produced by the patients in response to it. Detection of ATA-Abs) by counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIEP) can be useful and rapid method for the diagnosis of deep-seated Staphylococcus infections.