
Mechanisms of Pneumococcal Colonization
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Presented By
Presented by the Microbiology Section
Speaker: Jeffrey N. Weiser, University of Pennsylvania
Abstract
Since mucosal surface are often heavily colonized, competition both within and between microbial species is likely to be a major challenge to successful colonization. This seminar will examine in vivo mechanisms of intra- and interspecies competition involving Streptococcus pneumoniae, a common resident of the human airway. These mechanisms include the organism's production of antimicrobial products and its stimulation of selective host innate immune responses during co-colonization. The implications for the changing dynamics of pneumococcal colonization due to medical interventions will also be discussed.