Streptococcus pneumoniae Pilus Subunits Protect Mice against Lethal Challenge

• DOI: 10.1128/iai.01400-06
• Publication Date: 2006-12-05T01:33:53Z
• Authors: Claudia Gianfaldoni; Stefano Censini; Markus Hilleringmann; Monica Moschioni; Claudia Facciotti; Werner Pansegrau; Vega Masignani; Antonello Covacci; Rino Rappuoli; Michèle Anne Bar...; Paolo Ruggiero
• Keywords: Pneumococcal infections

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major public health threat worldwide. The recent discovery that this pathogen possesses pili led us to investigate their protective abilities in mouse model of intraperitoneal infection. Both active and passive immunization with recombinant pilus subunits afforded protection against lethal challenge the S. serotype 4 strain TIGR4.