Proteins and polypeptides from coagulase-negative staphylococcal bacteria
such as S. epidermidis, including proteins designated SdrF, SdrG and
SdrH, and their effective fragments such as their respective A domains,
are provided which are useful in the prevention and treatment of
infection caused by coagulase-negative staphylococcal bacteria such as S.
epidermidis. The SdrF, SdrG and SdrH proteins are cell-wall associated
proteins that specifically bind host proteins and which each have a
highly conserved motif of which the consensus sequence is TYTFTDYVD (SEQ
ID NO: 16). The proteins and polypetides may be useful in generating
antibodies for the diagnosis and treatment of coagulase-negative
staphylococcal infections.