Pneumococcal Neuraminidases Increase Platelet Killing by Pneumolysin.
Kristin J FritschLaura KrügerStefan HandtkeThomas P KohlerArina OzhiganovaKristin JahnJan WescheAndreas GreinacherSven HammerschmidtPublished in: Thrombosis and haemostasis (2024)
Neuraminidases are key virulence factors of pneumococci and desialylate platelet glycoproteins, thereby unmasking PLY-binding sites. This enhances binding of PLY and pore formation showing that pneumococcal neuraminidases and PLY act in concert to kill platelets. However, human polyvalent immunoglobulin G preparations are promising agents for therapeutic intervention during severe pneumococcal pneumonia.