Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae has been recognised as a bacterial pathogen in human beings, primarily as the principal cause of pneumonia, almost since it was first isolated by Sternberg and Pasteur more than 100 years ago. 1 Austrian R Pneumococcus: the first one hundred years. Rev Infect Dis. 1981; 3: 183-189 Crossref PubMed Scopus (86) Google Scholar The general characteristics defining this organism include encapsulation of the pneumococcus by one of 90 serologically distinct polysaccharides. 2 Henrichsen J Six newly recognized types of Streptococcus pneumoniae. J Clin Microbiol. 1995; 33: 2759-2762 Crossref PubMed Google Scholar The capsule, widely believed to be the most important pneumococcal virulence factor, 3 Watson DA Musher DM Verhoef J Pneumococcal virulence factors and host immune responses to them. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 1995; 14: 479-490 Crossref PubMed Scopus (92) Google Scholar is crucial for human immunity.
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