Pneumolysin in the immunopathogenesis and treatment of pneumococcal disease.
Recent insights into the immunopathogenesis of pneumococcal infection, a common and significant cause of morbidity and mortality, have implicated pneumolysin as being a prominent virulence factor, which may play a role in microbial colonization, invasion and dissemination, as well as tissue inflammation. Being a highly immunogenic polypeptide produced by all clinically relevant pneumococcal isolates, pneumolysin is recognized as a potential carrier protein for polysaccharide conjugate vaccines, while in the setting of acute disease, promising pneumolysin-directed pharmacological strategies include, among others, macrolides and corticosteroids.
University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa. rcockera@medic.up.ac.za.
Riana
R
Cockeran
Ronald
R
Anderson
Charles
C
Feldman
D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012307:Risk Factors; D013301:Streptolysins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D013301:Streptolysins; C032290:plY protein, Streptococcus pneumoniae