Analysis of surface receptor expression on bacteria isolated from patients with endocarditis

Fifteen bacterial isolates (12 streptococcal and 3 staphylococcal strains) from patients with bacterial endocarditis were screened for a variety of surface receptors, in an attempt to identify a common feature that might contribute to their ability to attach to and colonize damaged heart tissue. The bacterial receptors screened for, using a dot-blot autoradiographic procedure, included those for the Fc region of human IgG, fibrinogen, fibronectin and human C1q. Bacteria with receptors for each of the probes used could be identified, but no common receptor was present on all endocarditis-causing strains.