The molecular basis of fibronectin-mediated bacterial adherence to host cells. Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • Many pathogenic Gram-positive bacteria produce cell wall-anchored proteins that bind to components of the extracellular matrix (ECM) of the host. These bacterial MSCRAMMs (microbial surface components recognizing adhesive matrix molecules) are thought to play a critical role in infection. One group of MSCRAMMs, produced by staphylococci and streptococci, targets fibronectin (Fn, a glycoprotein found in the ECM and body fluids of vertebrates) using repeats in the C-terminal region of the bacterial protein. These bacterial Fn-binding proteins (FnBPs) mediate adhesion to host tissue and bacterial uptake into non-phagocytic host cells. Recent studies on interactions between the host and bacterial proteins at the residue-specific level and on the mechanism of host cell invasion are providing a much clearer picture of these processes.

published proceedings

  • Mol Microbiol

author list (cited authors)

  • Schwarz-Linek, U., Hk, M., & Potts, J. R.

citation count

  • 208

complete list of authors

  • Schwarz-Linek, Ulrich||Höök, Magnus||Potts, Jennifer R

publication date

  • May 2004

publisher