Pneumolysin Explained

Pneumolysin is a virulence factor of the Gram-positive bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae.[1]

It is a pore-forming toxin of 53 kDa composed of 471 amino acids.[2] It has a range of biological activity, including the ability to lyse[3] and interfere with the function of cells and soluble molecules of the immune system.[4]

Released pneumolysin will aid the bacteria during colonization by facilitating adherence to the host,[5] during invasion by damaging host cells[6] and during infection by interfering with the host immune response.[7]

The presence of pneumolysin in sputum,[8] urine,[9] CSF[10] and blood[11] can be indicative of an S. pneumoniae infection.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Rossjohn . J . Gilbert . RJ . Crane . D . Morgan . PJ . Mitchell . TJ . Rowe . AJ . Andrew . PW . Paton . JC . Tweten . RK . Parker . MW . 4 . The molecular mechanism of pneumolysin, a virulence factor from Streptococcus pneumoniae . Journal of Molecular Biology. Nov 27, 1998. 284. 2. 449–61. 9813129. 10.1006/jmbi.1998.2167.
  2. Marriott . HM . Mitchell . TJ . Dockrell . DH . Pneumolysin: A double-edged sword during the host-pathogen interaction . Current Molecular Medicine . September 2008 . 8 . 6 . 497–509 . 18781957 . 10.2174/156652408785747924.
  3. Baba . H . Kawamura . I . Kohda . C . Nomura . T . Ito . Y . Kimoto . T . Watanabe . I . Ichiyama . S . Mitsuyama . M . 4 . Essential role of domain 4 of pneumolysin from Streptococcus pneumoniae in cytolytic activity as determined by truncated proteins . Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. February 16, 2001. 281. 1. 37–44. 11178957. 10.1006/bbrc.2001.4297.
  4. Hirst . RA . Kadioglu . A . O'callaghan . C . Andrew . PW . The role of pneumolysin in pneumococcal pneumonia and meningitis.. Clinical and Experimental Immunology . November 2004 . 138 . 2 . 195–201 . 15498026 . 10.1111/j.1365-2249.2004.02611.x . 1809205.
  5. Rubins . JB . Paddock . AH . Charboneau . D . Berry . AM . Paton . JC . Janoff . EN . 4 . Pneumolysin in pneumococcal adherence and colonization . Microbial Pathogenesis . December 1998 . 25 . 6 . 337–42 . 9895272 . 10.1006/mpat.1998.0239.
  6. Rubins . JB . Janoff . EN . Pneumolysin: A multifunctional pneumococcal virulence factor . . January 1998 . 131 . 1 . 21–7 . 9452123 . 10.1016/s0022-2143(98)90073-7.
  7. Cockeran . R . Anderson . R . Feldman . C . The role of pneumolysin in the pathogenesis of Streptococcus pneumoniae infection . Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases . June 2002 . 15 . 3 . 235–9 . 12015456 . 10.1097/00001432-200206000-00004.
  8. Wheeler . J . Freeman . R . Steward . M . Henderson . K . Lee . MJ . Piggott . NH . Eltringham . GJ . Galloway . A . 4 . Detection of pneumolysin in sputum . Journal of Medical Microbiology . September 1999 . 48 . 9 . 863–6 . 10482298 . 10.1099/00222615-48-9-863.
  9. Rajalakshmi . B . Kanungo . R . Srinivasan . S . Badrinath . S . Pneumolysin in urine: A rapid antigen detection method to diagnose pneumococcal pneumonia in children . Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology . Oct–Dec 2002 . 20 . 4 . 183–6 . 17657067.
  10. Matos Jde . A . Madureira . DJ . Rebelo . MC . Hofer . CB . Barroso . DE . 4 . Diagnosis of Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis by polymerase chain reaction amplification of the gene for pneumolysin . Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz . August 2006 . 101 . 5 . 559–63 . 17072463 . 10.1590/s0074-02762006000500014. free .
  11. Lahti . E . Mertsola . J . Kontiokari . T . Eerola . E . Ruuskanen . O . Jalava . J . 4 . Pneumolysin polymerase chain reaction for diagnosis of pneumococcal pneumonia and empyema in children . . December 2006 . 25 . 12 . 783–9 . 17089094 . 10.1007/s10096-006-0225-9.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Pneumolysin".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.