MSCRAMMs (microbial surface components recognizing adhesive matrix molecules) are bacterial surface proteins mediating adherence of the microbes to components of the extracellular matrix of the host. On Staphylococci the MSCRAMMs often have multiple ligands. Consequently we hypothesized that the S. aureus MSCRAMM Bbp (bone sialoprotein-binding protein) might recognize host molecules other than ...

BACKGROUND BBK32 is a surface expressed lipoprotein and fibronectin (Fn)-binding microbial surface component recognizing adhesive matrix molecule (MSCRAMM) of Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease. Previous studies from our group showed that BBK32 is a virulence factor in experimental Lyme disease and located the Fn-binding region to residues 21-205 of the lipoprotein. MET...

Cell wall-anchored proteins play critical roles in the pathogenesis of infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria. Through the analysis of the genome of Bacillus anthracis Ames strain, we identified two novel putative cell wall-anchored proteins, BA0871 and BA5258, which have sequence homology to CNA, a cell wall-anchored collagen adhesin of Staphylococcus aureus. The two proteins have similar...

The ligand binding domain of the fibrinogen binding protein from Staphylococcus lugdunensis (Fbl) shares 60% sequence identity with clumping factor A (ClfA) of Staphylococcus aureus. Recombinant Fbl corresponding to the minimum fibrinogen-binding region (subdomains N2N3) was compared to ClfA for binding to fibrinogen. Fbl and ClfA had very similar affinities for fibrinogen by surface plasmon re...

The fibrinogen (Fg) binding MSCRAMM Clumping factor A (ClfA) from Staphylococcus aureus interacts with the C-terminal region of the fibrinogen (Fg) gamma-chain. ClfA is the major virulence factor responsible for the observed clumping of S. aureus in blood plasma and has been implicated as a virulence factor in a mouse model of septic arthritis and in rabbit and rat models of infective endocardi...

BACKGROUND Isolates of Staphylococcus aureus express a myriad of adhesive surface proteins that play important role in colonization of the bacteria on nasal and skin surfaces, beginning the process of pathogenesis. The aim of this study was to screen several of the Microbial Surface Components Recognizing Adhesive Matrix Molecules (MSCRAMMs) genes among the isolate of S. aureus from hospitalize...