Pneumococcus adapts to the sickle cell host.
Children with sickle cell disease (SCD) have significantly increased risk of invasive pneumococcal disease. In this issue of Cell Host & Microbe, Carter et al. (2014) report that pneumococcal strains from SCD children have genetic mutations associated with the unique SCD environment, which need to be considered in developing new vaccines.
Institute of Microbiology and Infection, School of Immunity and Infection, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK. Electronic address: t.j.mitchell@bham.ac.uk.
Tim J
TJ
Mitchell
Institute of Microbiology and Infection, School of Immunity and Infection, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK.
Andrea M
AM
Mitchell
D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000150:complications*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000235:genetics*
D001426:Bacterial Proteins