Importance of the pro-inflammatory effects of the capsule during invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae infection

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Streptococcus pneumoniae is the second most common cause of fatal bacterial infection world wide, causing half of all pneumonias and is also a frequent cause of meningitis and septicaemia. While the body's immune response results in the recruitment of white blood cells allowing the killing of the foreign organisms, the resulting inflammation can also cause damage to the body's own tissues. The pneumococcus is surrounded by a capsule made of sugars, which is important for the bacteria to evade being killed by white blood cells. However recent data from Drs Brown and Noursadeghi's laboratories has shown the capsule also affects the inflammatory response to pneumococcus, surprisingly resulting in increased pro-inflammatory responses. This effect could critically affect the development of invasive disease and inflammatory complications of severe infection such as septic shock. Furthermore, there are over 90 variations in pneumococcal capsule (serotypes), which are known to vary in severity and type of disease. These variations could be partially mediated by differences between serotypes in their effects on inflammation. By examining the affects of the capsule on the inflammatory response and the mechanisms underpinning it I hope to identify potential targets for therapeutic intervention and to improve our understanding of disease development, and thus reduce the morbidity and mortality of pneumococcus.