Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae is a common cause of pneumonia, meningitis, sinusitis, and otitis media. In order to successfully colonize humans, a prerequisite to the development of invasive disease, S. pneumoniae must compete with other bacterial inhabitants of the nasal surface for space and nutrients. Bacteriocins are small antimicrobial peptides produced by bacteria that typically target neighboring bacteria by disruption of the cell surface. S. pnuemoniae encodes a large number of potential bacteriocin, but, for most, their role in competitive interactions has not been defined. This work demonstrates that isolates that produce the bacteriocin streptococcin B have an advantage over non-producers. These observations contribute to our understanding of the competitive interactions that precede the development of S. pneumoniae disease.
Published Version
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