title: Role ofStreptococcus pneumoniaeProteins in Evasion of Complement-Mediated Immunity.
abstract: The complement system plays a central role in immune defense againstStreptococcus pneumoniae. In order to evade complement attack, pneumococci have evolved a number of mechanisms that limit complement mediated opsonization and subsequent phagocytosis. This review focuses on the strategies employed by pneumococci to circumvent complement mediated immunity, bothin vitroandin vivo. At last, since many of the proteins involved in interactions with complement components are vaccine candidates in different stages of validation, we explore the use of these antigens alone or in combination, as potential vaccine approaches that aim at elimination or drastic reduction in the ability of this bacterium to evade complement.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Biologia Celular e Molecular de Microrganismos, Universidade São Francisco Bragança Paulista, Brazil.
authors.forename: Greiciely O
authors.initials: GO
authors.lastname: Andre
authors.affiliation: Centro de Biotecnologia, Instituto ButantanSão Paulo, Brazil; Programa de Pós-graduação Interunidades em Biotecnologia, Universidade de São PauloSão Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thiago R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Converso
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Biologia Celular e Molecular de Microrganismos, Universidade São Francisco Bragança Paulista, Brazil.
authors.forename: Walter R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Politano
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Biologia Celular e Molecular de Microrganismos, Universidade São Francisco Bragança Paulista, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lucio F C
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Ferraz
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Farmacologia, Universidade São Francisco Bragança Paulista, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcelo L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.affiliation: Centro de Biotecnologia, Instituto Butantan São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luciana C C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Leite
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Biologia Celular e Molecular de Microrganismos, Universidade São Francisco Bragança Paulista, Brazil.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Darrieux
keywords: Streptococcus pneumoniae; complement system; pneumococcal moonlighting proteins; protein-based vaccines; virulence factors pneumococcal surface proteins