Comparison Between Lactoferrin and Subepithelial Matrix Protein Binding in Staphylococcus aureus Associated with Bovine Mastitis

¹ Department of Medical Microbiology, Malmö General Hospital and Department of Oral Microbiology, School of Dentistry University of Lund S-214 01 Malmö, Sweden
² Hill Farm Research Station Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station Louisiana State University Agricultural Center Homer 71040
³ Institut Pasteur F-75724 Paris Cédex 15, France

Staphylococcus aureus strains (n = 100) isolated from bovine mastitis were classified according to the presence of capsular polysaccharide serotype 5 (n = 46), type 8 (n = 26), and non-5/8 (n = 28). Strains from each type were tested for protein interaction in a ¹²⁵I-labeled ligand binding assay. A majority of type 5 and type 8 strains showed a higher degree of binding to lactoferrin, fibronectin, and IgG than the non-5/8 strains. Fibrinogen binding was low in all serotypes. Most of the type 5 and non-5/8 strains bound less than 10% laminin, whereas type 8 strains bound laminin in the 11 to 20% range. Non-5/8 strains significantly differed from type 5 in lactoferrin, fibronectin, fibrinogen, and IgG and also from type 8 in fibrinogen and IgG binding. The differences in protein binding between type 5 and type 8 were nonsignificant. The degree of lactoferrin binding in all types positively correlated with laminin binding. Lactoferrin and fibrinogen bindings were correlated in type 5 and type 8 strains. Lactoferrin and fibronectin bindings were correlated only in type 5 strains. These data suggest that bovine lactoferrin binding is common and associated with subepithelial matrix protein interactions in certain serotypes of S. aureus.

Key Words: lactoferrin • matrix proteins • capsular polysaccharide • Staphylococcus aureus

Submitted on April 1, 1991
Accepted on May 23, 1991

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