Identification of D motif epitopes in Staphylococcus aureus fibronectin-binding protein for the production of antibody inhibitors of fibronectin binding.

The peptide corresponds to amino acids 11-20 of the D1 motif. Epitope mapping of affinity-purified anti-D1-3 was performed using 24 overlapping decapeptides spanning the D1 motif and the N-terminal 18 residues of D2. Each peptide contained an N-terminal biotin and a 4 residue spacer SGSG. Anti-D1-3 reacted strongly with the epitope which is included in a cluster of acidic amino acids spanning residues 7-20 of the D1 motif.