Fibronectin binding by Streptococcus milleri group strains and partial characterisation of the fibronectin receptor of Streptococcus anginosus F4.

The Streptococcus milleri group were shown to bind fibronectin (Fn) to their cell-surface and this binding increased the adhesion of cells to hydroxyapatite. The binding of Fn to Streptococcus anginosus F4 was studied in more detail. Fn binding to bacterial cells increased the association of the bacteria with the polymorphonuclear leukocytes obtained from the peritoneal cavity of rats but did not increase killing of the bacteria. The cell-surface receptor was a protein of M(r) 14,000 which was released from cells after mutanolysin digestion. The binding was specific, with cells having a maximum number of binding sites per cell of 770. Electron microscopy, using gold-labelled Fn, localised the receptor to areas between daughter cells.