Isolated extracellular matrix-binding proteins, designated ClfB, SdrC, SdrD
and SdrE, and their corresponding amino acid and nucleic acid sequences
and motifs are described. The proteins, peptides, fragments thereof or
antigenic portions thereof are useful for the prevention, inhibition,
treatment and diagnosis of S. aureus infection and as scientific research
tools. Further, antibodies or antibody fragments to the proteins,
peptides, fragments thereof or antigenic portions thereof are also useful
for the prevention, inhibition, treatment and diagnosis of S. aureus
infection. In particular, the proteins or antibodies thereof may be
administered to wounds or used to coat biomaterials to act as blocking
agents to prevent or inhibit the binding of S. aureus to wounds or
biomaterials. ClfB is a cell-wall associated protein having a predicted
molecular weight of approximately 88 kDa and an apparent molecular weight
of approximately 124 kDa, which binds both soluble and immobilized
fibrinogen. ClfB binds both the alpha and beta chains of fibrinogen and
acts as a clumping factor. SdrC, SdrD and SdrE are cell-wall associated
proteins that exhibit cation-dependent ligand binding to the extracellular
matrix. It has been discovered that in the A region of SdrC, SdrD, SdrE,
ClfA and ClfB, there is a highly conserved amino acid sequence that can be
used to derive a consensus motif of TYTFTDYVD (SEQ ID NO: 16).