Staphylococcus aureus vWF-binding protein triggers a strong interaction between clumping factor A and host vWF

Through force spectroscopy studies on living bacteria, Viljoen et al. characterise the binding of S. aureus to host von Willebrand factor (vWF). They propose that S. aureus vWF-binding protein triggers an ultra-strong interaction between the adhesin clumping factor A and vWF.