Expression ofpls, a Gene Closely Associated with themecAGene of Methicillin-ResistantStaphylococcus aureus, Prevents Bacterial Adhesion In Vitro

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Theplsgene, coding for a large surface protein of methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus, was cloned from a strain which adheres poorly to several mammalian proteins. The structure ofplsrevealed three distinct repeat regions, one of which was a serine-aspartate repeat characteristic of the Clf-Sdr family of surface proteins in staphylococci. The lengths of the repeat regions varied in different clinical strains and could be used as epidemiological markers.plswas found to be closely associated with themecAgene by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis ofSmaI-digested DNA. Aplsmutant constructed by allele replacement adhered well to immobilized fibronectin and immunoglobulin G, in contrast to the parental strain, suggesting that Pls could have a role in preventing adhesion at some stages during an infection.