Bacteria - MSCRAMMs

MSCRAMMs

Non-pilus adhesins on the bacterial cell surface that attach pathogens to host structures.

MSCRAMMs – Microbial Surface Components Recognizing Adhesive Matrix Molecules – are proteins that facilitate colonization by Gram positive bacteria.
Staphylococcus aureus adheres to fibrinogen via Clumping factor A, and to fibronectin via Fibronectin Binding Protein (FnBP).
In turn, these ECM components make their own connections to platelets and host cells, thereby establishing secure associations between S. aureus and the host.
Furthermore, S. aureus can take advantage these associations and enter host cells to either lie latent or act as a super-antigen (for more, see our tutorial on bacterial endocarditis).