Effects of Expression of Streptococcus pneumoniae PspC on the Ability of Streptococcus mitis to Evade Complement-Mediated Immunity.

ABSTRACT: Streptococcus pneumoniae and Streptococcus mitis are genetically closely related and both frequently colonise the naso-oropharynx, yet S. pneumoniae is a common cause of invasive infections whereas S. mitis is only weakly pathogenic. We hypothesise that sensitivity to innate immunity may underlie these differences in virulence phenotype. We compared the sensitivity of S. pneumoniae and S. mitis strains to complement-mediated immunity, demonstrating S. mitis strains were susceptible to complement-mediated opsonophagocytosis. S. pneumoniae resistance to complement is partially dependent on binding of the complement regulator Factor H by the surface protein PspC. However, S. mitis was unable to bind factor H. The S. pneumoniae<

SUBMITTER: Marshall H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8646030 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature