[The receptors ensuring Staphylococcus aureus fixation on fibronectin-containing surfaces]

Abstract

The role of protein A and other components of S. aureus cell wall in binding fibronectin on the surface of formulated sheep red blood cells was studied. 41 out of 89 fibronectin-binding clinical isolates lost their capacity for agglutinating fibronectin-sensitized red blood cells after the treatment of such cells with the solution of commercial purified protein A. These strains were also shown to have pronounced direct relationship between the levels of binding of fibronectin and IgG. Other isolates in the collection possessed the protein A-independent receptor capable of binding fibronectin. The receptor was seemingly common for this group of strains, and its presence significantly increased the capacity of staphylococci for binding fibronectin.