The role of protein A in the attachment of staphylococci to influenza-infected cells.
The adherence of staphylococcal protein A-containing Cowan I bacteria to influenza-infected cells was enhanced up to 5 times following incubation of the monolayers with antiinfluenzal serum, but not following treatment with nomimmune serum. Significantly increased binding of Cowan I bacteria was detected at antiinfluenzal serum dilutions as high as 1:40,960. None of the several antibody concentrations tested enhanced the binding of staphylococcal protein A-negative staphylococci. In addition, extracellular staphylococcal protein A was found to inhibit complement-mediated cytolysis of antibody-coated, virus-infected cells. The possible significance of staphylococcal protein A in the synergistic interaction between staphylococcal and influenza virus infections is discussed.
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D002472:Cell Transformation, Viral; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D011817:Rabbits; D013205:Staphylococcal Protein A / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D013205:Staphylococcal Protein A; D003165:Complement System Proteins