Open AccessAdherence of Abiotrophia defectiva and Granulicatella species to fibronectin: is there a link with endovascular infections?
Author(s) -
Senn Laurence,
Entenza José M.,
Prod'hom Guy
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
fems immunology & medical microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1574-695X
pISSN - 0928-8244
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-695x.2006.00142.x
Subject(s) - biology , microbiology and biotechnology , gram positive bacterial infections , antibiotics
During a 6‐year period, we isolated three Abiotrophia defectiva , six Granulicatella adiacens and two G. ‘para‐adiacens’ strains from clinical specimens. All A. defectiva strains were isolated from immunocompetent patients with endovascular infections, whereas the Granulicatella spp. strains were isolated from immunosuppressed patients with primary bacteremia. As the capacity of bacteria to adhere to the host extracellular matrix (ECM) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of endovascular infection, we investigated the ability of A. defectiva and Granulicatella spp. isolates to bind different ECM components immobilized in microtiter plates. Adherence tests showed a strong attachment of A. defectiva strains to fibronectin, whereas Granulicatella spp. strains were not adherent. The poor adherence of Granulicatella spp. strains to the ECM could be correlated with a lower propensity to induce endocarditis.