MSCRAMM-MEDIATED ADHERENCE OF MICROORGANISMS TO HOST TISSUES

Microbial adhesion to host tissue is the initial critical event in the pathogenesis of most infections and, as such, is an attractive target for the development of new antimicrobial therapeutics. Specific micro bial components (adhesins) mediate adherence to host tissues by partic ipating in amazingly sophisticated interactions with host molecules. T his review focuses on a class of cell surface adhesins that specifical ly interact with extracellular matrix components and which we have des ignated MSCRAMMs (microbial surface components recognizing adhesive ma trix molecules). MSCRAMMs recognizing fibronectin-, fibrinogen-, colla gen-, and heparin-related polysaccharides are discussed in terms of st ructural organization, ligand-binding structures, importance in host t issue colonization and invasion, and role as virulence factors.