Sdr proteins from staphylococcus capitis and their use in preventing and treating infections

摘要

An isolated and/or purified Sdr surface protein from S. capitis and nucleic acids encoding them are provided which includes the SdrX protein which possesses collagen binding activites and the SdrZL protein which possesses SdrZ-like properties. The Sdr surface proteins from S. capitis can be used in pharmaceutical compositions to treat and prevent S. capitis infectionm and can also be used in vaccines and to raise antibodies which can treat or prevent such infections. Because the SdrX protein has been shown to have collagen binding abilities, antibodies to SdrX will have the ability to inhibit or prevent the ability of S. capitis to bind to collagen.