Insertional inactivation of the gene for collagen-binding protein has a pleiotropic effect on the phenotype of Staphylococcus aureus.

This report describes phenotypical changes caused by the insertional inactivation of the gene for the collagen-binding protein in Staphylococcus aureus PH100. Insertional inactivation resulted in reductions in the amount of fibronectin-binding protein in PH100 and the ability of intact cells to aggregate in the presence of fibronectin. However, the capacity of PH100 to adhere to immobilized fibronectin remained the same.