CS/DS is involved in bacterial infections. Borrelia (causing Lyme disease) was shown to use the core protein of decorin, as well as its CS/DS side chain, as a binding target in the initial phase of infection 65 (Fig. 4B). CS/DS released from decorin by proteases produced by Pseudomonas, Enterococcus and Streptococcus 66 targets α-defensin and inhibits its bactericidal activity. The optimal structure for interaction to α-defensin is a motif containing a mix of IdoA and GlcA, which is found in decorin present in fibrous connective tissue 66.
