Force-Induced Strengthening of the Interaction between Staphylococcus aureus Clumping Factor B and Loricrin.

ABSTRACT: Bacterial pathogens that colonize host surfaces are subjected to physical stresses such as fluid flow and cell surface contacts. How bacteria respond to such mechanical cues is an important yet poorly understood issue. Staphylococcus aureus uses a repertoire of surface proteins to resist shear stress during the colonization of host tissues, but whether their adhesive functions can be modulated by physical forces is not known. Here, we show that the interaction of S. aureus clumping factor B (ClfB) with the squamous epithelial cell envelope protein loricrin is enhanced by mechanical force. We find that ClfB mediates S. aureus adhesion to loricrin through weak and strong molecular interactions both in a laboratory strain and in a clinical isolate. Strong forces (~1,500 p

SUBMITTER: Vitry P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5717387 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature