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Molecular insights into intercellular adhesion in Staphylococcal biofilms

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Andrew B. Herr, Ph.D.

Divisions of Immunobiology & Infectious Diseases

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center

 

 

 

 

 

Abstract

 

Staphylococcal species are responsible for approximately two-thirds of all hospital-acquired infections.  A major challenge with Staphylococci is their propensity to form biofilms, which are surface-adherent colonies that are highly resistant to antibiotic action or host immune responses.  The Accumulation-Associated Protein (Aap) from S. epidermidis plays a critical role in holding bacterial cells together within a biofilm.  Aap is a large, multi-functional cell surface protein that can mediate attachment to host cells but is also responsible for intercellular adhesion between bacterial cells within a biofilm.  The C-terminal portion of Aap contains 5 to 17 nearly-identical tandem B-repeats, which are responsible for the adhesive function of Aap.  We have shown using biophysical and crystallographic approaches that the B-repeats of Aap self-assemble in the presence of Zn2+.  The two protein chains coordinate Zn2+ in trans to form an extended, anti-parallel dimer.  The protein fold is quite unusual, comprising elongated three-stranded b-sheets separated by regions of twisted coil.  The protein lacks a classic hydrophobic core, but instead exhibits a ‘hydrophobic stack’ at each inter-domain junction that stabilizes the fold.  Further characterization has revealed subtypes of the B-repeat within Aap that define a preferred assembly code for the full-length protein.  These investigations of the molecular basis for intercellular adhesion have opened the door to new therapeutic approaches to inhibit formation of staphylococcal biofilms.

 

Suggested Readings

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Conrady_PNAS_2008_all.pdf A zinc-dependent adhesion module is responsible for intercellular adhesion in staphylococcal biofilms
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Conrady_PNAS_2012_all.pdf Structural basis for Zn2+-dependent intercellular adhesion in staphylococcal biofilms