RNA thermosensors facilitate Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae immune evasion.

ABSTRACT: Bacterial meningitis is a major cause of death and disability in children worldwide. Two human restricted respiratory pathogens, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae, are the major causative agents of bacterial meningitis, attributing to 200,000 deaths annually. These pathogens are often part of the nasopharyngeal microflora of healthy carriers. However, what factors elicit them to disseminate and cause invasive diseases, remain unknown. Elevated temperature and fever are hallmarks of inflammation triggered by infections and can act as warning signals to pathogens. Here, we investigate whether these respiratory pathogens can sense environmental temperature to evade host complement-mediated killing. We show that productions of two vital virulence factors and vaccine component

SUBMITTER: Eichner H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8084184 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature