...ng of microorganisms to human platelets is a central process in the pathogenesis of Infective endocarditis. The deletion of genes encoding platelet adhesins in Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus mitis, two leading causes of Infective endocarditis, has been shown to result in a reduction in virulence in animal models of infective endocarditis. While investigating the S. mitis virulence factors ...