Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 28, 2026

Constructing Mutants in Serotype 1 Streptococcus pneumoniae strain 519/43
06:06

Constructing Mutants in Serotype 1 Streptococcus pneumoniae strain 519/43

Published on: September 11, 2020

1.8K

Novel clones of Streptococcus pneumoniae causing invasive disease in Malaysia

Johanna M Jefferies1, Mohd Yasim Mohd Yusof2, Shamala Devi Sekaran2

  • 1Faculty of Medicine and Institute of Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom; NIHR Southampton Respiratory Biomedical Research Unit, Southampton, United Kingdom; Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Plos One
|June 19, 2014
PubMed

Insights

This study identified significant diversity in Streptococcus pneumoniae strains causing invasive disease in Malaysia, with many novel types and 33% penicillin non-susceptibility. Further surveillance is crucial for effective pneumococcal vaccine policy.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major cause of childhood illness in Southeast Asia.
  • Limited data exists on invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) epidemiology in Malaysia.
  • Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) is underutilized for pneumococcal studies in the region.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize serotype, MLST, and penicillin susceptibility of IPD isolates in Malaysia.
  • To assess the relevance of findings to current pneumococcal conjugate vaccines.
  • To highlight the need for expanded epidemiological surveillance.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of 30 invasive pneumococcal disease isolates from University of Malaya Medical Centre (2000-2007).
  • Serotyping and multilocus sequence typing (MLST) were performed.
  • Penicillin susceptibility testing was conducted.

Main Results:

  • High diversity observed: 14 serotypes and 26 sequence types (STs) identified.
  • 11 of the 26 STs were previously undescribed.
  • 33% of isolates exhibited penicillin non-susceptibility.

Conclusions:

  • Malaysian pneumococcal isolates display considerable molecular heterogeneity.
  • Current pneumococcal conjugate vaccine serotypes may not cover the observed diversity.
  • Larger epidemiological studies are essential for informed vaccine policy in Malaysia and Southeast Asia.

More Related Videos

Capsular Serotyping of Streptococcus pneumoniae by Latex Agglutination09:11

Capsular Serotyping of Streptococcus pneumoniae by Latex Agglutination

Published on: September 25, 2014

23.7K
Characterization of Inflammatory Responses During Intranasal Colonization with Streptococcus pneumoniae09:12

Characterization of Inflammatory Responses During Intranasal Colonization with Streptococcus pneumoniae

Published on: January 17, 2014

12.2K

Related Concept Videos

Atypical Pneumonia01:14

Atypical Pneumonia

Atypical pneumonia, often caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, is a form of pulmonary infection that differs from the classical presentation of bacterial pneumonia in both its cause and clinical symptoms. Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a pleomorphic bacterium notable for its lack of a rigid cell wall. This structural characteristic imparts resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics and significantly influences the bacterium’s behavior within the human host.Other pathogens responsible for the disease...
80
Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance01:25

Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) presents a critical public health threat, arising from its capacity to resist β-lactam antibiotics due to acquisition of the mecA gene within the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec). This gene encodes penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a), which impairs binding efficacy of methicillin and other β-lactams. MRSA has evolved into distinct clonal lineages impacting humans and animals alike, reinforcing its significance within...
85
Bacterial Meningitis II: Pathophysiology01:26

Bacterial Meningitis II: Pathophysiology

Bacterial meningitis typically begins when pathogens such as Neisseria meningitidis and Streptococcus pneumoniae colonize the nasopharynx and invade the bloodstream. This process is facilitated by bacterial virulence factors, such as polysaccharide capsules, which resist phagocytosis and complement-mediated killing. Less commonly, bacteria reach the central nervous system via contiguous spread from infections like otitis media or sinusitis, through congenital or acquired dural defects, or...
14
Pneumonia I: Introduction01:29

Pneumonia I: Introduction

Pneumonia is an infection of the lower respiratory tract that leads to inflammation of the lung parenchyma, often resulting in the accumulation of inflammatory exudate in the alveoli and airways. Unlike the watery, low-protein fluid exudate in pulmonary edema, the exudate in this case is a thick fluid rich in immune cells, proteins, and debris produced during infection and inflammation.This impairs gas exchange and can lead to consolidation of lung tissue. The infection may be caused by a...
22
Bacterial Meningitis I: Introduction01:22

Bacterial Meningitis I: Introduction

Bacterial meningitis is a severe, life-threatening inflammation of the meninges, particularly the pia mater and arachnoid mater, affecting the subarachnoid space, ventricles, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). If untreated, it can lead to significant neurological complications or death.Causative AgentsCommon pathogens vary with age and immune status. In adults, major organisms include Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, and Haemophilus influenzae. Streptococcus agalactiae (group B...
11
Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA01:25

Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA

Antibiotic resistance in bacteria arises when microorganisms evolve the ability to withstand drugs designed to kill them or inhibit their growth, rendering once-effective treatments useless. This phenomenon, driven by genetic change and selection under antibiotic exposure, poses a profound threat to modern medicine. Mechanisms include drug-inactivating enzymes (e.g., β-lactamases), efflux pumps that eject antibiotics, mutations altering antibiotic targets, decreased drug uptake, and...
211