Immunoglobulin A (IgA) plays a key role in defending mucosal surfaces against attack by
infectious microorganisms. Such sites present a major site of susceptibility due to their vast …

The gastrointestinal tract houses millions of microbes, and thus has evolved several host
defense mechanisms to keep them at bay, and prevent their entry into the host. One such …

Abstract Calcium (Ca 2+) is a universal signaling ion, whose major informational role
shaped the evolution of signaling pathways, enabling cellular communications and …

Pathogenic bacteria display various levels of host specificity or tropism. While many bacteria
can infect a wide range of hosts, certain bacteria have strict host selectivity for humans as …

Background Mastitis is an inflammatory disease of the mammary gland that has serious
economic impacts on the dairy industry and endangers food safety. Our previous study …

Control of Streptococcus pneumoniae colonisation at human mucosal surfaces is critical to
reducing the burden of pneumonia and invasive pneumococcal disease, interrupting …

Background Exposure to cigarette smoke (CS) is associated with increased risk of
pneumococcal infection. The mechanism for this association is unknown. We recently …

Genomic analysis reveals extensive sequence variation and hot spots of recombination in
surface proteins of Streptococcus pneumoniae. While this phenomenon is commonly …

Intracellular occupancy of the respiratory epithelium is a useful pathogenic strategy
facilitating microbial replication and evasion of professional phagocytes or circulating …

Colonization of Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococci) is a prerequisite for bacterial
dissemination and their capability to enter the bloodstream. Pneumococci have evolved …