Growth of Streptococcus pneumoniae on human glycoconjugates is dependent upon the sequential activity of bacterial exoglycosidases.

In the human host, Streptococcus pneumoniae encounters a variety of glycoconjugates, including mucin, host defense molecules, and glycans associated with the epithelial surface. S. pneumoniae is known to encode a number of glycosidases that may modify these glycoconjugates in vivo.