Fig. 6: Staphylococcus aureus
Resisting Opsonization via Protein A
The Fc portion
of the antibody IgG, the portion that would normally binds to Fc receptors
on phagocytes, instead binds to protein A on Staphylococcus aureus.
In this way the bacterium becomes coated with a protective coat of antibodies
that do not allow for opsonization.