Sep 20, 2023 · The pilus is an extracellular structural part that can be detected in some Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) isolates (type I pili are found in approximately 30% of strains, while type II pili are found in approximately 20%). It is anchored to the cell wall by LPXTG-like motifs on the peptidoglycan.

The respiratory pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae deploys type IV pili to take up DNA during transformation. These “competence pili” are composed of the major pilin protein ComGC and exclusively assembled during bacterial competence, but their biogenesis remains unclear.

Here, we use a recently described pilus labeling approach to demonstrate that competence pili in Streptococcus pneumoniae are highly dynamic structures that rapidly extend and retract from the cell surface.

Streptococcus pneumoniae represents a major Gram-positive human pathogen causing bacterial pneumonia, otitis media, meningitis, and other invasive diseases. Several pneumococcal isolates show increasing resistance rates against antibacterial agents.

The human pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae expresses two different types of pili, PI-1 and PI-2, both of which require the concerted action of structural proteins and sortases for their polymerization. The type PI-1 streptococcal pilus is a complex, well studied structure, but the PI-2 type, present in a number of invasive pneumococcal ...

Jul 8, 2011 · The major pilin RrgB, which forms the pilus shaft on pathogenic Streptococcus pneumoniae, comprises four immunoglobulin (Ig)-like domains, each with a common CnaB topology. The three C-terminal domains are each stabilized by internal Lys-Asn isopeptide bonds, formed autocatalytically with the aid of an essential Glu residue.

Jul 19, 2024 · The pili and fimbriae of Streptococcus pneumoniae are slender, hair-like appendages that extend from the bacterial surface, playing a significant role in its interaction with host cells. These structures are primarily composed of protein subunits called pilins, which polymerize to form the filamentous projections.

Mar 23, 2021 · Here, we use a recently described pilus labeling approach to demonstrate that competence pili in Streptococcus pneumoniae are highly dynamic structures that rapidly extend and retract from the cell surface.

Nov 26, 2009 · Here we describe the molecular architecture of pilus‐1 of Streptococcus pneumoniae, which is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. One major (RrgB) and two minor components (RrgA and RrgC) assemble into the pilus.

Both active and passive immunization with recombinant pilus subunits afforded protection against lethal challenge with the S. pneumoniae serotype 4 strain TIGR4. Streptococcus pneumoniae causes severe diseases, including pneumonia, meningitis, and acute otitis media.