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Adhesion Mechanisms of Staphylococci

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Bacterial Adhesion

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 715))

Abstract

Staphylococcal adherence to an either biotic or abiotic surface is the critical first event in the establishment of an infection with these serious pathogens. Especially Staphylococcus aureus harbours a variety of proteinaceous and non-proteinaceous adhesins that mediate attachment to a multitude of host factors, such as extracellular matrix and plasma proteins and human host cells, or intercellular adhesion, which is essential for biofilm accumulation. Proteinaceous adhesins may be classified in covalently surface-anchored proteins of the MSCRAMM (microbial surface components recognizing adhesive matrix molecules) family or in proteins that are surface-associated by different means, such as ionic or hydrophobic interactions. Non-covalently surface-associated proteins include the autolysin/adhesins, proteins of the SERAM (secretable expanded repertoire adhesive molecules) family, or membrane-spanning proteins. Non-proteinaceous adhesins comprise the polysaccharide PIA (polysaccharide intercellular adhesin) and wall teichoic and lipoteichoic acids. The features and functions of surface and surface-associated protein adhesins as well as of non-proteinaceous adhesins are discussed.

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  1. Institute for Medical Microbiology, University Hospital of Münster, 48149, Münster, Germany

    Christine Heilmann

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Correspondence to Christine Heilmann .

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  1. , Department I, Protein Evolution, Max-Planck Institute for Developmental B, Spemannstr. 35, Tübingen, 72076, Germany

    Dirk Linke

  2. , Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, Viikinkaari 1, Helsinki, FIN-00014, Finland

    Adrian Goldman

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Heilmann, C. (2011). Adhesion Mechanisms of Staphylococci. In: Linke, D., Goldman, A. (eds) Bacterial Adhesion. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 715. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-0940-9_7

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