title: Extracellular fibrinogen binding protein, Efb, from Staphylococcus aureus as an antiplatelet agent in vivo.
abstract: Staphylococcus aureus produces and secretes a protein, extracellular fibrinogen binding protein (Efb), which contributes to virulence in wound infection. We have previously shown that Efb is a potent inhibitor of platelet function in vitro. We confirm here that this is also the case in vivo. Pre-treatment with Efb resulted in a significant prolongation of bleeding time in a mouse model. Furthermore, Efb was capable of rescuing animals from death caused by the administration of potent platelet agonists. This antiplatelet effect may explain the retardation of wound healing associated with Efb in S. aureus wound infections. These results are important not only in terms of understanding S. aureus pathogenesis, and consequently identifying new treatment strategies, but also with regard to the development of potential, novel antiplatelet agents for the prevention of thrombosis.
authors.affiliation: The Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Oonagh
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Shannon
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Uekötter
authors.forename: Jan-Ingmar
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Flock
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001760:Bleeding Time; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000737:chemistry*; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011485:Protein Binding; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000378:metabolism*; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C114014:Efb protein, Staphylococcus aureus; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D005340:Fibrinogen; D005982:Glutathione Transferase