Research progress in pneumolysin

Abstract:

Pneumolysin is a multifunctional virulence factor expressed by Streptococcus pneumoniae. Pneumolysin includes 4 domains and is a member of cholesterol-dependent cytolysins. Pneumolysin has extensive cytotoxicity to a range of host cells. Furthermore, pneumolysin can activate complement classical pathway, and induce macrophages and monocytes to produce proinflammatory cytokines, mediate host immune responses. Consequently, pneumolysin is a potential candidate target for research and development of vaccines and drugs. In this review, the latest research progresses on the structure and function of pneumolysin, and related vaccines are discussed.

Key words:pneumolysin;cytotoxicity;proinflammatory properties;vaccine