Streptococcus pneumoniae Deficient in Pneumolysin or Autolysin Has Reduced Virulence in Meningitis

摘要: BACKGROUND: The role played by pneumolysin and autolysin in pneumococcal meningitis is poorly understood. METHODS: A rat model was used to investigate the disease, which surgical implantation of a cisternal catheter allowed bacterial instillation cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sampling. RESULTS: CSF infection rats with wild-type pneumococci caused within 26 h, whereas isogenic mutants that do not express (DeltaPly) or (LytA(-)) very mild no disease. Wild-type infections resulted cortical homogenates, but minority infected DeltaPly LytA(-) had bacteria these locations at h. Leukocyte numbers were similar after all pneumococci; however, neutrophils monocytes predominated infection, lymphocytes atypical mutants. disruption ependyma, this observed LytA(-). Cells surrounding ventricles wild type-infected animals expressed caspase 3, astrocytes hypertrophy; both findings absent CONCLUSIONS: This study provides strong vivo evidence play crucial roles pathogenesis meningitis.