http://now.uiowa.edu/2014/02/prickly-protein
Prickly protein prevents bacteria from forming clumps, reduces their ability to cause disease.
A genetic mechanism that controls the production of a large spike-like protein on the surface of Staphylococcus aureus (staph) bacteria alters the ability of the bacteria to form clumps and to cause disease, according to a new University of Iowa study.