Fluorescence Microscopy Demonstrates Enhanced Targeting of Telavancin to the Division Septum of Staphylococcus aureus

The cellular binding patterns of fluorescent conjugates of telavancin and vancomycin were evaluated in Staphylococcus aureus by fluorescence microscopy and ratio imaging analysis. Telavancin showed enhanced binding at the division septum compared to vancomycin. This result is consistent with observations that telavancin binds with higher affinity to lipid II than to D-Ala-D-Ala residues in the cell wall, thus demonstrating the preferential binding of telavancin to the site of active cell wall biosynthesis.