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Updated: Jun 20, 2026

Glycopeptide Capture for Cell Surface Proteomics
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Glycopeptide Capture for Cell Surface Proteomics

Published on: May 9, 2014

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Identification of Streptococcus pneumoniae-Specific Proteins by Surface-Shaving Proteomics

Leonarda Acha Alarcon1,2, Guillem Seguí2,3,4, Beatriz Piñeiro-Iglesias2,3,4

  • 1Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, 40530 Gothenburg, Sweden.

Journal of Proteome Research
|November 10, 2025
PubMed

Insights

This study identifies novel protein and peptide biomarkers for Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) using proteomics and genomics. These biomarkers show potential for improved diagnostics and new therapeutic targets against pneumococcal infections.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Proteomics
  • Genomics

Background:

  • Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) causes severe pneumonia, meningitis, and septicemia, leading to high mortality, especially in vulnerable populations.
  • Current diagnostic and treatment strategies for pneumococcal infections require enhancement.
  • Identifying species-specific biomarkers is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify novel pneumococcal protein and peptide biomarkers using integrated proteomics and genomics.
  • To discover potential targets for diagnostics and therapeutics against S. pneumoniae.
  • To analyze the cell-surface proteome of genetically diverse S. pneumoniae strains.

Main Methods:

  • Pan-genome analysis of 11 S. pneumoniae strains with genetic variation.
  • Mass spectrometry-based proteomics combined with bacterial surface-shaving.
  • Analysis of proteomic data from three biological replicates per strain.
  • Comparison against 8,892 S. pneumoniae proteomes in public databases.

Main Results:

  • Identification and ranking of S. pneumoniae proteins and peptides based on prevalence.
  • Several highly ranked proteins confirmed as species-specific surface virulence factors or highly antigenic.
  • 34 novel potential biomarkers identified, prevalent across diverse strains and related species with minimal sequence similarity.

Conclusions:

  • The study proposes 34 novel protein biomarkers for S. pneumoniae diagnostics and therapeutics.
  • These biomarkers are highly prevalent across genetically diverse strains and species-specific.
  • The findings offer new avenues for combating pneumococcal diseases.

Keywords:
LPIStreptococcus pneumoniaebiomarkersbottom-up mass spectrometryproteomicssurface-shaving

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