What is it about?
Nonencapsulated Streptococcus pneumoniae (NESp) is an emerging human pathogen that colonizes humans and causes upper respiratory disease. NESp expressing oligopeptide binding proteins AliC and AliD have been isolated during invasive pneumococcal disease. We examined the role of AliC and AliD in NESp virulence.
Featured Image
Why is it important?
Despite the effective, widespread use of licensed pneumococcal vaccines over many decades, pneumococcal infections remain a worldwide burden. NESp subpopulations are rapidly rising in the wake of capsule-targeted vaccine strategies. Understanding how NESp survive within a host and establish disease is necessary for development of broadened pneumococcal prevention methods.
Perspectives
It has long be held that to be virulent, pneumococci require a capsule. We and others continue to show that NESp which naturally lack a capsule, cause pneumococcal disease. This is an area that needs to be further explored.
Dr Larry S. McDaniel
University of Mississippi Medical Center
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Mucosal Infections and Invasive Potential of Nonencapsulated Streptococcus pneumoniae Are Enhanced by Oligopeptide Binding Proteins AliC and AliD, mBio, January 2018, ASM Journals,
DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02097-17.
You can read the full text:
Contributors
The following have contributed to this page
