A SEARCH FOR NOVEL STAPHYLOCOCCUS EPIDERMIDIS ADHESINS

表皮葡萄球菌在宿主中引起疾病的能力取决于其对组织和血清蛋白覆盖的生物材料的附着。在先前的研究中，已经表明，一旦在表面上建立，这种生物体可以形成多糖包裹的生物膜。然而，初始连接步骤所需的元件没有很好地表征。我推测细胞表面蛋白参与了S.表皮对宿主组织和生物材料的粘附。因此，我建议鉴定和表征S.表皮附着于胶原和纤连蛋白。为了实现这些目标，我打算，a）鉴定，克隆和测序新的S。表皮胶原和纤连蛋白粘附素基因，B）确定胶原结合蛋白内的配体结合结构域，c）确定胶原中的粘附素结合位点，和c）分析粘附素和胶原之间的分子相互作用。对S.表皮粘附素结构及其与其配体的分子相互作用可能导致可以预防生物材料感染的治疗剂的开发。

The ability of Staphylococcus epidermidis to elicit disease in the host is dependent on its attachment to tissue and serum-protein covered biomaterials. In prior studies it was shown that once established onto a surface, this organism can form polysaccharide-encased biofilms. However, the elements necessary for the initial attachment step are not well characterized. I postulate that cell-surface proteins are involved in the initial phase of S. epidermidis adherence to host tissue and biomaterials. Therefore, I propose to identify and characterize the proteins necessary for S. epidermidis attachment to collagen and fibronectin. To accomplish these goals, I intend to, a) identify, clone and sequence novel S. epidermidis collagen- and fibronectin-adhesin genes, b) define the ligand binding domain within the collagen-binding protein, c) determine the adhesin binding site in collagen, and c) analyze the molecular interactions between the adhesin and collagen. An understanding of the S. epidermidis adhesins structure and their molecular interactions with their ligands may lead to the development of therapeutic agents that could prevent biomaterials infections.