Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Pneumococci can counteract the action of neutrophils with an antiphagocytic capsule and through electrochemical repulsion of antimicrobial peptides via addition of positive charge to the surface. Pneumococci are captured, but not killed in neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). Here, we study the role of the polysaccharide capsule and lipoteichoic acid (LTA) modification on pneumococcal interaction with NETs. Expression of capsule (serotypes 1, 2, 4 and 9V) significantly reduced trapping by NETs, but was not required for resistance to NET-mediated killing. Pneumococci contain a dlt operon that mediates the incorporation of d-alanine residues into LTAs, thereby introducing positive charge. Genetic inactivation of dltA in non-encapsulated pneumococci rendered the organism sensitive to killing by antimicrobial components present in NETs. However, the encapsulated dltA mutant remained resistant to NET-mediated killing in vitro. Nevertheless, in a murine model of pneumococcal pneumonia, the encapsulated dltA-mutant strain was outcompeted by the wild-type upon invasion into the lungs and bloodstream. This suggests a non-redundant role for LTA alanylation in pneumococcal virulence at the early stage of invasive disease when capsule expression has been shown to be low.
The interception of blood-borne bacteria in the liver defines the outcomes of invasive bacterial infections, but the mechanisms of this antibacterial immunity are not fully understood. This study shows that natural antibodies (nAbs) to capsules enable liver macrophage Kupffer cells (KCs) to rapidly capture and kill blood-borne encapsulated bacteria in mice. Affinity pulldown with serotype-10A capsular polysaccharides (CPS10A) of Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn10A) led to the identification of CPS10A-binding nAbs in serum.
Department of Emergency Medicine, Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service, Southport Queensland, Australia; Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Queensland, Australia.
Background: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and accompanying public health measures disrupted the normal transmission of respiratory viral pathogens. Less is known about the effects on bacterial pathogens.
Aims: To assess the impact of public health restrictions on common respiratory pathogens (influenza viruses, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and the following bacterial pathogens: Streptococcus pneumoniae (S.
Introduction: Alveolar macrophages (AM) are critical effectors of the immune response and are essential for host responses to . Changes in lipid metabolism in AM can alter cellular function and biology. Impaired metabolism can contribute to excessive lipid accumulation and pro-inflammatory signaling.
Streptococcus pneumoniae infection is considered an uncommon cause of arthritis in adults. To determine the clinical and microbiological characteristics of pneumococcal septic arthritis, we retrospectively studied a large series of cases among adult patients during the 2010-2018 conjugate vaccine era in France. We identified 110 patients (56 women, 54 men; mean age 65 years), and cases included 82 native joint infections and 28 prosthetic joint infections.
