Abstract
Microorganisms express a family of cell-surface adhesins that specifically recognize and bind components of the extracellular matrix. Adhesion of microorganisms to host tissues represents a critical phase in the development of many types of infections. Recent studies have focused on the mechanisms of microbial attachment at a molecular level, including the identification of ligand-binding domains in several cell-surface adhesins from Gram-positive bacteria and the construction of adhesin-deficient isogenic mutants.
Publication types
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
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Review
MeSH terms
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Adhesins, Bacterial / genetics
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Adhesins, Bacterial / physiology*
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Amino Acid Sequence
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Animals
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Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
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Bacterial Infections / drug therapy
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Bacterial Infections / etiology
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Cell Adhesion / physiology*
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Collagen / metabolism
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Drug Design
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Extracellular Matrix / physiology*
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Fibronectins / metabolism
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Humans
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Protein Binding
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Virulence / physiology
Substances
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Adhesins, Bacterial
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Anti-Bacterial Agents
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Fibronectins
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Collagen