"The binding 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 that are responsible for the adherence of bacterial cells directly to platelets we identified that bacterial lipoteichoic acid interacts with the platelet membrane receptor CD36. CD36 is a recognised mammalian receptor for bacterial lipoteichoic acid but this is the first time it has been identified as a receptor for the adherence of bacteria to platelets. This adherence phenotype appears to be conserved across other gram positive pathogens as we were also able to demonstrate that S. aureus lipoteichoic acid contributes to the direct attachment of S. aureus bacterial cells to platelets.The purpose of this study is to investigate the molecular interaction of the gram positive pathogens S. mitis and S. aureus and their respective lipoteichoic acids with CD36 and platelets. This will help to identify the role of this interaction in the pathogenesis of infective endocarditis and help define the recognition of bacterial LTA by the immune system."