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Pathogenesis, treatment, and prevention of pneumococcal pneumonia

Tom van der Poll1, Steven M Opal

  • 1Centre for Infection and Immunity Amsterdam, Centre for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. t.vanderpoll@amc.uva.nl

Lancet (London, England)
|November 3, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Streptococcus pneumoniae causes pneumonia worldwide. Understanding how this bacterium evades host defenses reveals new strategies for vaccines and antibiotics to combat pneumococcal infections.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Immunology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Streptococcus pneumoniae is a leading cause of community-acquired pneumonia globally.
  • It commonly colonizes the upper airways of healthy individuals.
  • Colonization is a dynamic process involving pathogen proliferation and host invasion.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore molecular mechanisms of pneumococcal evasion of host defenses.
  • To identify potential therapeutic targets for controlling pneumococcal infections.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of molecular mechanisms used by Streptococcus pneumoniae.
  • Investigation of host-pathogen interactions during colonization and invasion.

Main Results:

  • Pneumococci employ sophisticated strategies to evade host-sensing systems.
  • Understanding these evasion tactics offers insights into novel treatment approaches.

Conclusions:

  • A multifaceted approach is necessary to control Streptococcus pneumoniae.
  • This includes diverse vaccine antigens, antibiotic combinations, and immunoadjuvant therapies.

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