S. aureus is a potent, opportunistic human pathogen that has evolved in a symbiotic relationship with its hosts and is notorious for its ability to cause life-threatening diseases such as sepsis, pneumonia and endocarditis. In 2005 S. aureus was responsible for more death in the US than any other microbial pathogen. S. aureus is unique in that the organism produces over a dozen fibrinogen (Fg) binding cell wall anchored proteins (MSCRAMMs) or small secreted proteins. Many of these proteins act as potent virulence factors and can recruit Fg and assemble a Fg containing coat surrounding and protecting the bacteria from phagocytosis and clearance. We believe that this Fg containing shield represents a key to understand the unique features of S. aureus virulence including the organism?s demonstrated resistance in several active and passive vaccination trials. Consequently, we propose to characterize the staphylococcal Fg binding proteins, their interactions with Fg and the conformational changes leading to the formation of the shield. We will use X-ray crystallography of complexes formed between the bacterial proteins/peptides and Fg fragments/peptides complemented by extensive biochemical studies to characterize the Fg interactions and determining interactive sites. Preliminary results show that the MSCRAMMs use a combination of a primary and a secondary synergistic site to bind Fg with high affinity whereas a common linear Fg binding motif present in two of the secreted proteins exhibits an amazingly high affinity for Fg. The conformational changes induced in Fg upon binding to different staphylococcal proteins will be identified by crystallographic analysis of intact Fg in complex with staphylococcal proteins/peptides and further analyzed in a mouse septicemia model. Based on the detailed information of staphylococcal protein/Fg interactions, we will identify MSCRAMM variants with altered affinity for Fg and explore the possibility that these exhibit altered virulence potentials. Finally, with comprehensive knowledge of staphylococcal Fg interactions, we will generate mAbs that can inhibit Fg binding to staphylococcal proteins. In the future, these mAbs could be developed to useful therapeutic agents.
Staphylococcus aureus is responsible for more death in the US than any other microbe but remains resistant to all vaccination attempts tried so far. Our proposed basic studies on staphylococcal host interactions will provide a possible molecular explanation for the poor outcome of the vaccination attempts and a foundation for the future rational design of effective immuno- preventive and -therapeutic strategies.
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