Pathogenesis of Pneumococcal Infection

Abstract

The study of Streptococcus pneumoniae has led to many insights into the pathogenesis of bacterial infections. The importance of the polysaccharide capsule of the organism in determining its virulence was indicated by studies of the protective role of anticapsular antibodies.¹³ Of comparable importance was the observation that noncapsulated pneumococci caused progressive disease in rabbits with agranulocytosis, demonstrating thereby the pathogenic properties of the pneumococcal soma.⁴ Investigation of the pathologic events in pneumococcal infection led to the discovery of DNA,^2,3 the development of the first bacterial polysaccharide vaccine,⁵ and insights into the mechanism of action of penicillin,⁶ antibiotic tolerance, . . .