| Title |
| Streptococcus pneumoniae capsular polysaccharides, genetics, and pathogenesis |
| Description |
| Many bacteria elaborate capsular polysaccharides that serve to protect against environmental insults. As a paradigm for characterizing the mechanisms of capsule synthesis and regulation in bacteria, we study the human pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae, which is a major cause of pneumonia, bacteremia, meningitis, sinusitis, and otitis media. Young children, the elderly, and those with chronic underlying disorders such as heart disease, certain malignancies, sickle cell anemia, and diabetes are particularly susceptible to pneumococcal infections. The capsule of S. pneumoniae protects the bacterium from host defenses and it is the basis for vaccines against this organism. Our work focuses on the genetics of capsule expression, the biochemical mechanisms of capsule synthesis, and the virulence properties associated with capsule production. Additionally, we study the regulation of multiple other virulence factors that are co-regulated with capsule and whose expression is influenced by factors found in different host niches in which the bacterium resides. |
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