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Fibronectin-staphylococcal interactions in endovascular infections
1Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53706.
Zentralblatt Fur Bakteriologie : International Journal of Medical Microbiology
|December 1, 1990
Summary
Staphylococci use fibronectin receptors to attach to damaged blood vessels, causing endovascular infections. Blocking this attachment may prevent infections and lead to a broadly protective Staphylococcus aureus vaccine.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Vaccine Development
Background:
- Fibronectin, a protein, coats sites of endovascular damage, which are prone to Staphylococcus infection.
- Staphylococcal infections are often linked to the expression of fibronectin receptors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of fibronectin receptors in staphylococcal attachment and pathogenesis of endovascular infections.
- To explore the potential for a vaccine targeting the fibronectin receptor.
Main Methods:
- In vitro studies using cultured cells, artificial matrices, and anti-fibronectin antibodies.
- In vivo experiments using a rat endocarditis model with genetically modified Staphylococcus aureus strains.
Main Results:
- Fibronectin acts as a crucial ligand for staphylococcal attachment to host tissues and medical devices.
- Staphylococcus aureus strains lacking the fibronectin receptor showed significantly reduced colonization of damaged heart valves in rats.
Conclusions:
- The fibronectin receptor is vital for the pathogenesis of staphylococcal endovascular infections.
- Targeting the widely expressed fibronectin receptor could enable the development of a broad-spectrum Staphylococcus aureus vaccine.