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Updated: May 11, 2026

Biomimetic Materials to Characterize Bacteria-host Interactions
Published on: November 16, 2015
Collagen-binding microbial surface components recognizing adhesive matrix molecule (MSCRAMM) of Gram-positive
Mingsong Kang1, Ya-Ping Ko, Xiaowen Liang
1Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
Abstract:
Members of a family of collagen-binding microbial surface components recognizing adhesive matrix molecules (MSCRAMMs) from Gram-positive bacteria are established virulence factors in several infectious diseases models. Here, we report that these adhesins also can bind C1q and act as inhibitors of the classical complement pathway. Molecular analyses of Cna from Staphylococcus aureus suggested that this prototype MSCRAMM bound to the collagenous domain of C1q and interfered with the interactions of C1r with C1q. As a result, C1r2C1s2 was displaced from C1q, and the C1 complex was deactivated. This novel function of the Cna-like MSCRAMMs represents a potential immune evasion strategy that could be used by numerous Gram-positive pathogens.
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