The Outer Surface Protease, SepM, Is Required for blp Locus Activation in Three of the Four Most Common Pherotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae

Abstract

Streptococcus pneumoniae is an important cause of disease in humans that occurs when the bacteria in the nasopharynx bypasses host defenses to invade deeper tissues. Colonization fitness thus represents an important initial step in pathogenesis. S. pneumoniae produces antimicrobial peptides called bacteriocins that provide a competitive advantage over neighboring bacteria in the nasopharynx.