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.