| 摘要 |
<p>A method is provided for reducing or preventing the adhesion of polymorphonuclear (PMN) leukocytes to fibrinogen such as might occur at the situs of a vascular injury due to disease or a surgical operation such as balloon angioplasty or a vascular transplantation by administration of a composition containing an effective amount of a Clf40 or Clf41 protein from the ligand-binding region of the ClfA protein from staphylococcal bacteria. The use of Clf40 or Clf41 compositions can inhibit adhesion to fibrinogen at the endothelial level so as to treat or prevent undesirable conditions associated with vascular injury, including the development of atherosclerotic plaque or inflammation. In addition, the present invention provides methods of isolating and purifying the Clf40 and Clf41 regions, as well as methods of using compositions containing these proteins in the treatment or prevention of infectious irritations or disease conditions caused by staphylococcal bacteria. Further, the invention contemplates the development and use of vaccines and antibodies based on the Clf40 and Clf41 protein regions, and the use of Clf40 and Clf41 in various methods including the generation of an immune response against these proteins, the enhancement of the immune response against staphylococcal bacteria, and the increase in the phagocytic capacity in the host to counter infection.</p> |
