A SEARCH FOR NOVEL STAPHYLOCOCCUS EPIDERMIDIS ADHESINS

表皮葡萄球菌引起宿主疾病的能力依赖于它对组织和血清蛋白覆盖的生物材料的附着。在先前的研究表明，一旦建立在表面上，这种生物可以形成多糖包裹的生物膜。然而，初始依恋步骤所必需的元素并没有很好地表征。我假设细胞表面蛋白参与了表皮葡萄球菌粘附宿主组织和生物材料的初始阶段。因此，我建议鉴定和表征表皮葡萄球菌附着于胶原蛋白和纤维连接蛋白所必需的蛋白质。为了实现这些目标，我打算，a)鉴定，克隆和测序新的表皮葡萄球菌胶原蛋白和纤维连接蛋白-粘附素基因，b)确定胶原结合蛋白内的配体结合域，c)确定胶原中的粘附素结合位点，c)分析粘附素与胶原之间的分子相互作用。了解表皮葡萄球菌黏附素的结构及其与配体的分子相互作用可能会导致治疗药物的发展，从而防止生物材料感染。

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.