MSCRAMM
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MSCRAMM (acronym for "microbial surface components recognizing adhesive matrix molecules") adhesin proteins mediate the initial attachment of bacteria to host tissue, providing a critical step to establish infection.
Examples include protein A, clumping factor A (ClfA), fibronectin binding protein A (FnbpA) from Staphylococcus aureus, SdrG from Staphylococcus epidermidis, M protein from Streptococcus pyogenes, and protein G in other Streptococcus species. All of these MSCRAMMs bind to fibrinogen except protein A, that binds IgG, but also other targets for MSCRAMMs are known, such as fibronectin. Protein M binds to the Fc region of certain antibodies.
The MSCRAMMs have mainly been studied in Gram positive pathogens and are promising drug targets.
The monoclonal antibody tefibazumab targets ClfA and has been tested in a phase II trial.
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