Mechanisms underlying the interaction between Streptococcus pneumoniae and host inflammasomes

Abstract:

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a Gram-positive extracellular bacterium colonized in the upper respiratory tract, and the main cause of invasive pneumonia with high morbidity and mortality. Inflammasomes are multi-protein complexes located in the cytosol and critical in innate immune responses. Numerous studies have shown that S. pneumoniae infection can induce the assembling of inflammasomes, activation of caspase-1 and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Under the long-term selection pressure, S. pneumoniae evolves with some mutations to escape inflammasome recognition. In this review, mechanisms on the interactions between S. pneumoniae and host inflammasomes, including the induction and active role of inflammasomes during S. pneumoniae infection, and the evasion strategy of S. pneumoniae against inflammasome recognition are summarized.

Key words:Streptococcus pneumoniae;inflammasomes;innate immunity;evasion strategy