Role of surface proteins in staphylococcal adherence to fibres in vitro

To study the role of surface proteins in the adherence ofStaph-ylococcus aureus to fibers that are used in tampon and surgical gauze pad manufacture, we have developed an adherence assay with S. aureus cells and cotton and rayon fibers. Results sug-gest that staphylococcal adherence is dependent on both the substrate and the material used to coat these fibers. Scanning electron micrographs supported the adherence results and re-vealed more cells on the surface of cotton than rayon fibers. Treatment of staphylococcal cells with proteolytic enzymes significantly reduced binding to pure cotton and detergent-treated cotton fibers. Immunoblot analysis of cell wall proteins suggested that surface proteins in the mol wt range of 120-220 kD were involved in the adherence of S. aureus to cotton fibers. Although the adherence of S. aureus to cotton fibers alone appeared to be mediated through surface charge or hydropho-bic interactions, bacterial binding to fibers which have been pretreated with defibrinated blood appeared to be more spe-cific and independent of the surface constituents of the fibers. The results of these studies implicate staphylococcal surface proteins in the adherence of S. aureus to commercially avail-able tampon fibers and surgical gauze pads