DOI
https://doi.org/10.25772/4MKC-PH76
Defense Date
2009
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Physiology
First Advisor
Todd Kitten
Abstract
Streptococcus sanguinis is a leading cause of infective endocarditis. Bacterial adhesion to platelets is likely important in the pathogenesis of infective endocarditis. Bacterial cell wall-anchored (Cwa) proteins may mediate this adhesion. To begin to test this hypothesis, S. sanguinis adhesion to platelets was examined in vitro. The requirement of 12 Cwa proteins for S. sanguinis-platelet adhesion was individually assessed, measuring adhesion of purified platelets to polystyrene wells coated with S. sanguinis strain SK36 or 12 isogenic Cwa protein mutants. Significantly fewer platelets adhered to wells coated with one mutant strain, VT1614. However, results of a whole-cell enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) showed that 8 mutants, including VT1614, adhered in significantly lower numbers to wells than did SK36. After accounting for unequal bacterial numbers, we determined there was no significant difference in platelet adhesion among the strains. This suggests that none of the Cwa proteins examined were required for S. sanguinis-platelet adhesion.
Rights
© The Author
Is Part Of
VCU University Archives
Is Part Of
VCU Theses and Dissertations
Date of Submission
December 2009