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Surface properties of Staphylococcus saprophyticus: hydrophobicity, haemagglutination and Staphylococcus saprophyticus surface‐associated protein (Ssp) represent distinct entities
Author(s) -
MEYER HEINZGEORG WILHELM,
GATERMANN SÖREN
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
apmis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.909
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1600-0463
pISSN - 0903-4641
DOI - 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1994.tb05203.x
Subject(s) - staphylococcus saprophyticus , microbiology and biotechnology , hemagglutination , virulence , staphylococcus , bacteria , biology , proteases , strain (injury) , staphylococcus aureus , surface protein , chemistry , biochemistry , virology , enzyme , virus , gene , anatomy , genetics
Cell surface hydrophobicity may contribute to virulence in urinary tract pathogens. In this study we assess the influence of differential expression of the two major surface proteins (Ssp and the haemagglutinin) of Staphylococcus saprophyticus on cell surface hydrophobicity. The haemagglutinating strain CCM883, which does not produce Ssp, was hydrophobic regardless of the growth conditions. Strain 9325, which is non‐haemagglutinating and produces Ssp, was hydrophobic only when grown in liquid media. Although these results suggest an association between the ability to express the haemagglutinin and the structure responsible for cell surface hydrophobicity, they refute any major role of Ssp and haemagglutinin in hydrophobicity. Treatment of bacteria with proteases reduces hydrophobicity, indicating that the structure mediating hydrophobicity is a protein.