Final answer:
Coagulase acts as a competitive inhibitor to the fibrinogen/integrin interaction, causing the formation of a clot that protects bacteria from the immune system.
Step-by-step explanation:
The interaction between fibrinogen and integrin is important for platelet formation. However, there are certain substances that can act as competitive inhibitors to this interaction. One example is the exoenzyme coagulase produced by some strains of Staphylococcus aureus. Coagulase triggers the fibrinogen-to-fibrin cascade even in the absence of blood vessel damage, leading to the formation of a clot that coats the bacteria and protects them from the immune system.