Pneumolysin-dependent and independent non-canonical autophagy processes mediate host defense against pneumococcal infection.

ABSTRACT: Streptococcus pneumoniae is an opportunistic pathogen responsible for life-threatening diseases including pneumonia and meningitis. The host defense against pneumococci relies heavily on macrophages, which can effectively internalize and degrade bacteria. Recent studies have implicated both canonical and non-canonical autophagy-related processes in bacterial clearance, but the precise pathways mediating defense against S. pneumoniae remain unknown. Here, we utilize a well-established zebrafish larval infection model to investigate the role of autophagy in host defense against pneumococci in vivo. Using a transgenic macroautophagy/autophagy reporter line, we found the autophagy marker Map1lc3/Lc3 being recruited to pneumococci-containing vesicles upon bacterial internal

SUBMITTER: Michno BJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12758243 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature