The collagen-binding adhesin is a virulence factor in Staphylococcus aureus keratitis

Marcus N. Rhem, Elizabeth M. Lech, Joseph M. Patti, Damien McDevitt, Magnus Hook, Dan B. Jones, Kirk R. Wilhelmus

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

108 Scopus citations

Abstract

A collagen-binding strain of Staphylococcus aureus produced suppurative inflammation in a rabbit model of soft contact lens-associated bacterial keratitis more often than its collagen-binding-negative isogenic mutant. Reintroduction of the cna gene on a multicopy plasmid into the mutant helped it regain its corneal adherence and infectivity. The topical application of a collagen-binding peptide before bacterial challenge decreased S. aureus adherence to deepithelialized corneas. These data suggest that the collagen- binding adhesin is involved in the pathogenesis of S. aureus infection of the cornea.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)3776-3779
Number of pages4
JournalInfection and Immunity
Volume68
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2000

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Parasitology
  • Microbiology
  • Immunology
  • Infectious Diseases

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