Pneumococcus adapts to the sickle cell host

Tim J Mitchell; Andrea M Mitchell

doi:10.1016/j.chom.2014.04.013

Pneumococcus adapts to the sickle cell host

Cell Host Microbe. 2014 May 14;15(5):521-3. doi: 10.1016/j.chom.2014.04.013.

Authors

Tim J Mitchell¹, Andrea M Mitchell²

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Microbiology and Infection, School of Immunity and Infection, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK. Electronic address: t.j.mitchell@bham.ac.uk.
² Institute of Microbiology and Infection, School of Immunity and Infection, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK.

PMID: 24832446
DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2014.04.013

Abstract

Children with sickle cell disease (SCD) have significantly increased risk of invasive pneumococcal disease. In this issue of Cell Host & Microbe, Carter et al. (2014) report that pneumococcal strains from SCD children have genetic mutations associated with the unique SCD environment, which need to be considered in developing new vaccines.

Publication types

Comment

MeSH terms

Anemia, Sickle Cell / complications*
Bacterial Proteins / genetics*
Female
Host-Pathogen Interactions*
Humans
Male
Pneumococcal Infections / microbiology*
Streptococcus pneumoniae / genetics*

Substances

Bacterial Proteins