The role of pneumolysin in the pathogenesis of Streptococcus pneumoniae infection

Curr Opin Infect Dis. 2002 Jun;15(3):235-9. doi: 10.1097/00001432-200206000-00004.

Abstract

In addition to being cytotoxic for eukaryotic cells, recent research has clearly indicated that pneumolysin at sub-cytolytic concentrations potentiates the proinflammatory activities of neutrophils and macrophages. Together these cytotoxic and proinflammatory activities of the toxin are likely to contribute to the virulence of the pneumococcus, particularly in facilitating adherence, invasion and dissemination of this important microbial pathogen. Pneumolysin-based vaccine strategies, although in the early stages of development and evaluation, show promise in reducing the severity of pneumococcal disease.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Bacterial / immunology
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Cell Membrane Permeability / drug effects
  • Drug Design
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / immunology
  • Inflammation / microbiology
  • Pneumococcal Infections / diagnosis
  • Pneumococcal Infections / immunology*
  • Pneumococcal Vaccines / chemistry
  • Pneumococcal Vaccines / immunology
  • Protein Conformation
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae / pathogenicity*
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae / physiology
  • Streptolysins / chemistry
  • Streptolysins / immunology*
  • Streptolysins / toxicity
  • Virulence

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Pneumococcal Vaccines
  • Streptolysins
  • plY protein, Streptococcus pneumoniae