# FIBRONECTIN ROLE IN PATHOGENESIS OF S. AUREUS INFECTIONS

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON · 1987 · $137,195

## Abstract

Even in the antibiotic era, S. aureus remains one of the most feared
pathogens with a spectrum of disease ranging from local abscesses to
overwhelming sepsis.  One of the unique features of S. aureus is its
ability to cause metastatic infections.  The factors that permit the
development of these metastases are not known.  We have found that
fibronectin binds to S. aureus avidly and specifically and that the number
of fibronectin receptors on the strain of S. aureus correlates directly
with its invasiveness.  Fibronectin is found in abundance at sites of
endovascular damage and may serve as an attachment site for S. aureus.
Thus, the overall goal of this grant is to characterize the role of
fibronectin in the pathogenesis of endovascular, S. aureus infections.  We
plan to characterize the fibronectin binding factor on S. aureus, to
produce antibodies against the fibronectin binding substance on S. aureus,
to study the role of fibronectin in the adherence of S. aureus to host
tissues in animals using in vitro models of endovascular infection, and to
characterize the effects of fibronectin on phagocytosis by endothelial
cells and fibroblasts.  Because S. aureus infections represent a common and
serious threat to patients with artificial or abnormal heart valves; a
better understanding of the initiating event, i.e., attachment to tissues,
will help to design more rational therapy.  The importance of fibronectin
in pathogenesis of S. aureus infections will be determined by using
fibronectin fragments and antifibronectin antibodies.  If S. aureus
attachment to fibronectin proves important in the initiation of S. aureus
infections, then antibodies directed at the fibronectin receptor on S.
aureus may be able to prevent these infections.  This suggests the
possibility of a vaccine.  We plan to isolate the fibronectin receptor on
S. aureus by fibronectin-Sepharose affinity, by QAE, and gel-filtration
chromatography.  We will study attachment of S. aureus in vitro by testing
adherence of S. aureus to clots, subendothelial matrices,
collagen-fibronectin matrices, endothelial cells, and fibroblasts.  Use of
fibronectin fragments and antibodies to the fibronectin receptor will
provide specificity for the S. aureus-fibronectin interactions.  Finally,
ultrastructural and histochemical studies of S. aureus interactions with
fibronectin and host cells will be performed.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3126882
- **Project number:** 5R01AI016881-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON
- **SAM.gov UEI:** LCLSJAGTNZQ7
- **Principal Investigator:** RICHARD A PROCTOR
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1987
- **Award amount:** $137,195
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1981-09-30 → 1989-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3126882

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3126882, FIBRONECTIN ROLE IN PATHOGENESIS OF S. AUREUS INFECTIONS (5R01AI016881-05). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3126882. Licensed CC0.

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