Monoclonal antibodies which can bind to the ClfA protein and which are
generated from binding subdomains or active fragments of the ClfA protein from
Staphylococcus aureus, including the active fragments proteins from its
fibrinogen binding domain such as Clf40 protein, the Clf33 protein, or ClfA N3,
are provided which can be useful in the treatment and protection against infection
from staphylococcal bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus. In addition,
medical instruments can be treated using the monoclonal antibodies of the invention
in order to reduce or eliminate the possibility of their becoming infected or further
spreading the infection. In particular, the antibodies of the present invention
are advantageous because they can prevent adherence of the bacteria to host cells
by impairing or inhibiting the ability of S. aureus ClfA to bind to fibrinogen
or fibrin, and thus can be utilized in methods or treating or preventing staphylococcal inventions.