A new fibrinogen binding protein or polypeptide originating from coagulase negative staphylococci, biotechnological methods for producing the protein or polypeptide having fibrinogen binding activity and a recombinant DNA molecule coding for the protein (or fragments thereof), and micro-organisms (including viruses) containing this recombinant DNA molecule. The present invention further comprises the therapeutic and diagnostic use of the protein and/or DNA, e.g., a diagnostic kit for determining the presence and/or type of coagulase negative staphylococci and a vaccine composition, comprising the protein or DNA.