Abstract: Multicomponent vaccines are provided which aid in the prevention and treatment of staphylococcal infections and which include certain selected combinations of bacterial binding proteins or fragments thereof, or antibodies to those proteins or fragments. By careful selection of the proteins, fragments, or antibodies, a vaccine is provided that imparts protection against a broad spectrum of Staphylococcus and other bacterial strains and against proteins that are expressed at different stages of the logarithmic growth curve. In one embodiment of the invention, a composition is provided that includes a fibrinogen binding domain of a fibrinogen binding protein and a bacterial component such as a capsular polysaccharide, and both active and passive vaccines based on these components are also provided, along with methods of treating infection using these compositions and vaccines.

Abstract: An isolated extracellular matrix-binding protein, designated as SdrE and its corresponding amino acid and nucleic acid sequences and motifs are described. The proteins, peptides, fragments thereof or antigenic portions thereof are useful for the prevention, inhibition, treatment and diagnosis of S. aureus infection and as scientific research tools. Further, antibodies or antibody fragments to the proteins, peptides, fragments thereof or antigenic portions thereof are also useful for the prevention, inhibition, treatment and diagnosis of S. aureus infection. In particular, the proteins or antibodies thereof may be administered to wounds or used to coat biomaterials to act as blocking agents to prevent or inhibit the binding of S. aureus to wounds or biomaterials.

Abstract: An isolated extracellular matrix-binding protein, designated as SdrD and its corresponding amino acid and nucleic acid sequences and motifs are described. The proteins, peptides, fragments thereof or antigenic portions thereof are useful for the prevention, inhibition, treatment and diagnosis of S. aureus infection and as scientific research tools. Further, antibodies or antibody fragments to the proteins, peptides, fragments thereof or antigenic portions thereof are also useful for the prevention, inhibition, treatment and diagnosis of S. aureus infection. In particular, the proteins or antibodies thereof may be administered to wounds or used to coat biomaterials to act as blocking agents to prevent or inhibit the binding of S. aureus to wounds or biomaterials.

Abstract: An isolated extracellular matrix-binding protein, designated as SdrC and its corresponding amino acid and nucleic acid sequences and motifs are described. The proteins, peptides, fragments thereof or antigenic portions thereof are useful for the prevention, inhibition, treatment and diagnosis of S. aureus infection and as scientific research tools. Further, antibodies or antibody fragments to the proteins, peptides, fragments thereof or antigenic portions thereof are also useful for the prevention, inhibition, treatment and diagnosis of S. aureus infection. In particular, the proteins or antibodies thereof may be administered to wounds or used to coat biomaterials to act as blocking agents to prevent or inhibit the binding of S. aureus to wounds or biomaterials.

Abstract: Multicomponent vaccines are provided which aid in the prevention and treatment of staphylococcal infections and which include certain selected combinations of bacterial binding proteins or fragments thereof, or antibodies to those proteins or fragments. By careful selection of the proteins, fragments, or antibodies, a vaccine is provided that imparts protection against a broad spectrum of Staphylococcus and other bacterial strains and against proteins that are expressed at different stages of the logarithmic growth curve. In one embodiment of the invention, a composition is provided that includes a fibrinogen binding domain of a fibrinogen binding protein and a bacterial component such as a capsular polysaccharide, and both active and passive vaccines based on these components are also provided, along with methods of treating infection using these compositions and vaccines.

Abstract: An isolated extracellular matrix-binding protein, designated as SdrE and its corresponding amino acid and nucleic acid sequences and motifs are described. The proteins, peptides, fragments thereof or antigenic portions thereof are useful for the prevention, inhibition, treatment and diagnosis of S. aureus infection and as scientific research tools. Further, antibodies or antibody fragments to the proteins, peptides, fragments thereof or antigenic portions thereof are also useful for the prevention, inhibition, treatment and diagnosis of S. aureus infection. In particular, the proteins or antibodies thereof may be administered to wounds or used to coat biomaterials to act as blocking agents to prevent or inhibit the binding of S. aureus to wounds or biomaterials.

Abstract: Methods for treating or preventing infections from coagulase-negative staphylococci using proteins and polypeptides from coagulase-negative staphylococcal bacteria such as S. epidermidis, including proteins designated SdrF, SdrG and SdrH, and their effective fragments such as their respective A domains, are provided. Methods are also provided wherein antibodies that recognize the SdrG protein or its ligand binding A region are used to treat or prevent staphylococcal infection, and these methods can also be utilized to prevent the formation of infections on indwelling medical devices.

Abstract: An isolated extracellular matrix-binding protein, designated as SdrD and its corresponding amino acid and nucleic acid sequences and motifs are described. The proteins, peptides, fragments thereof or antigenic portions thereof are useful for the prevention, inhibition, treatment and diagnosis of S. aureus infection and as scientific research tools. Further, antibodies or antibody fragments to the proteins, peptides, fragments thereof or antigenic portions thereof are also useful for the prevention, inhibition, treatment and diagnosis of S. aureus infection. In particular, the proteins or antibodies thereof may be administered to wounds or used to coat biomaterials to act as blocking agents to prevent or inhibit the binding of S. aureus to wounds or biomaterials.

Abstract: Multicomponent vaccines are provided which aid in the prevention and treatment of staphylococcal infections and which include certain selected combinations of bacterial binding proteins or fragments thereof, or antibodies to those proteins or fragments. By careful selection of the proteins, fragments, or antibodies, a vaccine is provided that imparts protection against a broad spectrum of Staphylococcus and other bacterial strains and against proteins that are expressed at different stages of the logarithmic growth curve. In one embodiment of the invention, a composition is provided that includes a fibrinogen binding domain of a fibrinogen binding protein and a bacterial component such as ca capsular polysaccharide, and both active and passive vaccines based on these components are also provided, along with methods of treating infection using these compositions and vaccines.

Abstract: An isolated extracellular matrix-binding protein, designated as SdrC and its corresponding amino acid and nucleic acid sequences and motifs are described. The proteins, peptides, fragments thereof or antigenic portions thereof are useful for the prevention, inhibition, treatment and diagnosis of S. aureus infection and as scientific research tools. Further, antibodies or antibody fragments to the proteins, peptides, fragments thereof or antigenic portions thereof are also useful for the prevention, inhibition, treatment and diagnosis of S. aureus infection. In particular, the proteins or antibodies thereof may be administered to wounds or used to coat biomaterials to act as blocking agents to prevent or inhibit the binding of S. aureus to wounds or biomaterials.

Abstract: Proteins and polypeptides from coagulase-negative staphylococcal bacteria such as S. epidermidis, including proteins designated SdrF, SdrG and SdrH, and their effective fragments such as their respective A domains, are provided which are useful in the prevention and treatment of infection caused by coagulase-negative staphylococcal bacteria such as S. epidermidis. The SdrF, SdrG and SdrH proteins are cell-wall associated proteins that specifically bind host proteins and which each have a highly conserved motif of which the consensus sequence is TYTFTDYVD (SEQ ID NO: 16). The proteins and polypetides may be useful in generating antibodies for the diagnosis and treatment of coagulase-negative staphylococcal infections.

Abstract: Isolated extracellular matrix-binding proteins, designated ClfB, SdrC, SdrD and SdrE, and their corresponding amino acid and nucleic acid sequences and motifs are described. The proteins, peptides, fragments thereof or antigenic portions thereof are useful for the prevention, inhibition, treatment and diagnosis of S. aureus infection and as scientific research tools. Further, antibodies or antibody fragments to the proteins, peptides, fragments thereof or antigenic portions thereof are also useful for the prevention, inhibition, treatment and diagnosis of S. aureus infection. In particular, the proteins or antibodies thereof may be administered to wounds or used to coat biomaterials to act as blocking agents to prevent or inhibit the binding of S. aureus to wounds or biomaterials. ClfB is a cell-wall associated protein having a predicted molecular weight of approximately 88 kDa and an apparent molecular weight of approximately 124 kDa, which binds both soluble and immobilized fibrinogen.

Abstract: A sled for supporting a decoy, comprising a rod defining a first runner and second runner separated by the midpoint of the rod. The first runner and the second runner have a mid section substantially parallel to the horizontal plane, and a front section angled at least 20 degrees from the horizontal plane. A support comprising a first end, a second end, and a midpoint is also disclosed. The first end of the support is fastened to the mid section of the first runner and the second end of the support is fastened to the mid section of the second runner. A post is fastened to the support and an animal decoy is supported by the post. A first string spans from the animal decoy to the midpoint of the rod. A second string is attached to the midpoint of the rod and allows for remote movement of the sled.

Abstract: A method and composition for the passive immunization of patients infected with or susceptible to infection from Staphylococcus bacteria such as S. aureus and S. epidermidis infection is provided that includes the selection or preparation of a donor plasma pool with high antibody titers to carefully selected Staphylococcus adhesins or MSCRAMMs, or fragments or components thereof, or sequences with substantial homology thereto. The donor plasma pool can be prepared by combining individual blood or blood component samples which have higher than normal titers of antibodies to one or more of the selected adhesins or other proteins that bind to extracellular matrix proteins, or by administering carefully selected proteins or peptides to a host to induce the expression of desired antibodies, and subsequently recovering the enhanced high titer serum or plasma pool from the treated host.

Abstract: Isolated extracellular matrix-binding proteins, designated ClfB, SdrC, SdrD and SdrE, and their corresponding amino acid and nucleic acid sequences and motifs are described. The proteins, peptides, fragments thereof or antigenic portions thereof are useful for the prevention, inhibition, treatment and diagnosis of S. aureus infection and as scientific research tools. Further, antibodies or antibody fragments to the proteins, peptides, fragments thereof or antigenic portions thereof are also useful for the prevention, inhibition, treatment and diagnosis of S. aureus infection. In particular, the proteins or antibodies thereof may be administered to wounds or used to coat biomaterials to act as blocking agents to prevent or inhibit the binding of S. aureus to wounds or biomaterials.

Abstract: Methods for treating or preventing infections from coagulase-negative staphylococci using proteins and polypeptides from coagulase-negative staphylococcal bacteria such as S. epidermidis, including proteins designated SdrF, SdrG and SdrH, and their effective fragments such as their respective A domains, are provided. Methods are also provided wherein antibodies that recognize the SdrG protein or its ligand binding A region are used to treat or prevent staphylococcal infection, and these methods can also be utilized to prevent the formation of infections on indwelling medical devices.

Abstract: Proteins and polypeptides from coagulase-negative staphylococcal bacteria such as S. epidermidis, including proteins designated SdrF, SdrG and SdrH, and their effective fragments such as their respective A domains, are provided which are useful in the prevention and treatment of infection caused by coagulase-negative staphylococcal bacteria such as S. epidermidis. The SdrF, SdrG and SdrH proteins are cell-wall associated proteins that specifically bind host proteins and which each have a highly conserved motif of which the consensus sequence is TYTFTDYVD (SEQ ID NO: 16). The proteins and polypetides may be useful in generating antibodies for the diagnosis and treatment of coagulase-negative staphylococcal infections.

Abstract: Multicomponent vaccines are provided which aid in the prevention and treatment of staphylococcal infections and which include certain selected combinations of bacterial binding proteins or fragments thereof, or antibodies to those proteins or fragments. By careful selection of the proteins, fragments, or antibodies, a vaccine is provided that imparts protection against a broad spectrum of Staphylococcus bacterial strains and against proteins that are expressed at different stages of the logarithmic growth curve. In one embodiment of the invention, a composition is provided that includes at least a collagen binding protein or peptide (or an appropriate site directed mutated sequence thereof) such as CNA, or a protein or fragment with sufficiently high homology thereto, in combination with a fibrinogen binding protein, preferably Clumping factor A (“ClfA”) or Clumping factor B (“ClfB”), or a useful fragment thereof or a protein or fragment with sufficiently high homology thereto.

Abstract: Antibodies reactive with isolated proteins, designated SdrF, SdrG and SdrH, and their corresponding amino acid and nucleic acid sequences, are provided which are useful in the prevention and treatment of infection caused by coagulase-negative staphylococcal bacteria such as S. epidermidis. The SdrF, SdrG and SdrH proteins are cell-wall associated proteins that specifically bind host proteins and which each have a highly conserved motif of which the consensus sequence is TYTFTDYVD (SEQ ID NO: 16). The antibodies are also useful for the diagnosis and treatment of coagulase-negative staphylococcal infections and may be administered to wounds or used to coat biomaterials to act as blocking agents to prevent or inhibit the binding of coagulase-negative staphylococci to wounds or biomaterials.

Abstract: A method and composition for the passive immunization of patients infected with or susceptible to infection from Staphylococcus bacteria such as S. aureus and S. epidermidis infection is provided that includes the selection or preparation of a donor plasma pool with high antibody titers to carefully selected Staphylococcus adhesins or MSCRAMMs, or fragments or components thereof, or sequences with substantial homology thereto. The donor plasma pool can be prepared by combining individual blood or blood component samples which have higher than normal titers of antibodies to one or more of the selected adhesins or other proteins that bind to extracellular matrix proteins, or by administering carefully selected proteins or peptides to a host to induce the expression of desired antibodies, and subsequently recovering the enhanced high titer serum or plasma pool from the treated host.