MICROBIAL ADHESINS RECOGNIZING EXTRACELLULAR-MATRIX MACROMOLECULES

Microorganisms express a family of cell-surface adhesins that specific ally recognize and bind components of the extracellular matrix. Adhesi on of microorganisms to host tissues represents a critical phase in th e development of many types of infections. Recent studies have focused on the mechanisms of microbial attachment at a molecular level, inclu ding the identification of ligand-binding domains in several cell-surf ace adhesins from Gram-positive bacteria and the construction of adhes in-deficient isogenic mutants.