Binding of collagen to group A, B, C, D and G streptococci

Abstract

Binding of 125I-labelled collagen type II to group A, B, C, D and G streptococci was studied. Strains of all five serogroups were found to bind. Binding to one high-binding strain (group G, strain 12127) was characterised. This was reversible, saturable with time and inhibited by unlabelled type II collagen, but not by other proteins such as fibronectin and ovalbumin. However, binding was inhibited by unlabelled type I, II and III collagens and gelatin, suggesting that a common structure of various collagens is involved in binding.