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Clumping of Staphylococcus aureus by human fibronectin
Acta Pathologica Et Microbiologica Scandinavica. Section B, Microbiology
|October 1, 1981
Summary
Fibronectin clumps Staphylococcus aureus but not other staphylococci. This clumping mechanism is independent of Protein A and IgG, suggesting a unique bacterial cell wall interaction.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Biochemistry
- Immunology
Background:
- Staphylococci are bacteria that can cause various infections.
- Fibronectin is a plasma protein involved in cell adhesion and immune response.
- The interaction between staphylococci and host plasma proteins is crucial for understanding pathogenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the clumping of different staphylococcal species by fibronectin.
- To elucidate the mechanism of fibronectin-mediated clumping in Staphylococcus aureus.
- To determine if Protein A or IgG influences fibronectin binding.
Main Methods:
- Purified fibronectin was used to induce clumping of various staphylococcal strains.
- Experiments were conducted using Staphylococcus aureus strains, including those lacking Protein A.
- The effect of IgG on fibronectin-induced clumping was assessed.
Main Results:
- Purified fibronectin effectively clumped Staphylococcus aureus strains at physiological concentrations.
- Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus saprophyticus did not exhibit clumping with fibronectin.
- Fibronectin-induced clumping of S. aureus was independent of Protein A and IgG presence.
Conclusions:
- Fibronectin specifically interacts with and clumps Staphylococcus aureus.
- The clumping mechanism does not involve Protein A or IgG, indicating a distinct binding site.
- The fibronectin-binding component on S. aureus cell walls appears unrelated to the fibrinogen-binding clumping factor.