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. 1974 Aug;14(2):198–202. doi: 10.1128/jvi.14.2.198-202.1974

Effect of Protein A on Adsorption of Bacteriophages to Staphylococcus aureus

Kristina Nordström 1, Arne Forsgren 1
PMCID: PMC355503  PMID: 4277011

Abstract

Experiments were performed to determine if protein A influenced the association of bacteriophages with Staphylococcus aureus. Bacteriophage adsorption was compared in a S. aureus strain rich in protein A and mutants of this strain with very little protein A, in a strain with little protein A, and in mutants of this strain with increased protein A. In addition, the effect of growth in mannitol-salt broth and trypsin digestion (known to reduce protein A) on bacteriophage absorption was measured. There was an inverse relationship between protein A content of strains and the quantity of bacteriophage absorbed. However, no inhibition of staphylococcal phages was obtained with purified soluble protein A. Protein A as a surface component rendered the bacteria more resistant to adsorption of staphylococcal typing phages presumably by masking the phage receptor sites. When protein A-deficient mutants were incubated with bacteriophages, there was survival of staphylococci with increased protein A content probably due to a selective action.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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