Analysis of “Streptococcal SUrface REpeat” domain (SSURE) from Streptococcus surface proteins and investigation of their binding properties to Extracellular Matrix (ECM) molecules.

SSURE are domains found in proteins expressed by various streptococcal species that were initially described by their ability to bind extracellular matrix protein (Bumbaca, 2004, Jedrzajas,2007). The scope of this thesis is to examine the interactions between different SSURE domains and ECM in comparison with other ECM components. In particular, in the course of these studies, I have focused on the use of Atomic Force Microscopy to study interactions between recombinant SSURE domains of S. pneumoniae and S. gordonii .