Fibronectin-binding protein B variation in straphylococcus aureus

Abstract

The surface-expressed fibronectin-binding proteins FnBPA and FnBPB of Staphylococcus aureus mediate attachment to immobilised fibronectin, fibrinogen and elastin. These proteins are encoded by two closely linked but separately transcribed genes, fnbA and fnbB. All S. aureus strains carry fnbA and the majority also cany fnbB. Seven different iso types of FnBPA were previously identified based on divergence in the fibrinogen and elastin-binding N-terminal A domains. This variation creates differences in antigenicity while ligand binding functions are retained. Here, FnBPB variation was examined in both human and bovine isolates and compared to that of FnBPA.