Pathogenesis of neonatal Streptococcus agalactiae infections.
Streptococcus agalactiae is an important human pathogen causing severe neonatal infections. During the course of infection, S. agalactiae colonizes and invades a number of different host compartments. Bacterial molecules including the polysaccharide capsule, the hemolysin, the C5a peptidase, the C-proteins, the hyaluronate lyase and a number of unknown bacterial components determine the interaction with host tissues. This review summarizes our current knowledge about these interactions.
Spellerberg
B
B
Institute of Medical Microbiology and National Reference Center for Streptococci, University Hospital Aachen, Pauwelsstr. 30, D-52057, Aachen, Germany. bspeller@imib.rwth-aachen.de
D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae / Q000472:pathogenicity*