Inhibition of Enterococcus faecium adherence to collagen by antibodies against high-affinity binding subdomains of Acm

Infect Immun. 2007 Jun;75(6):3192-6. doi: 10.1128/IAI.02016-06. Epub 2007 Apr 16.

Abstract

Strains of Enterococcus faecium express a cell wall-anchored protein, Acm, which mediates adherence to collagen. Here, we (i) identify the minimal and high-affinity binding subsegments of Acm and (ii) show that anti-Acm immunoglobulin Gs (IgGs) purified against these subsegments reduced E. faecium TX2535 strain collagen adherence up to 73 and 50%, respectively, significantly more than the total IgGs against the full-length Acm A domain (28%) (P < 0.0001). Blocking Acm adherence with functional subsegment-specific antibodies raises the possibility of their use as therapeutic or prophylactic agents.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adhesins, Bacterial / immunology*
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / immunology
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / pharmacology*
  • Bacterial Adhesion / drug effects*
  • Collagen / metabolism*
  • Enterococcus faecium / immunology
  • Enterococcus faecium / metabolism*

Substances

  • Acm protein, Enterococcus faecium
  • Adhesins, Bacterial
  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Collagen