Two DHH Subfamily 1 Proteins Contribute to Pneumococcal Virulence and Confer Protection against Pneumococcal Disease (vol 79, pg 3697, 2011)

Summary: A novel aquaporin subfamily represented by pneumococcal Pn-AqpC functions as an oxygen porin facilitating O-2 influx into cells and plays a significant role in controlling pneumococcal virulence by modulating H2O2 production and pneumolysin release. Its presence also increases pneumococcal resistance to H2O2 and NO, impacting bacterial survival in macrophages and overall virulence in mice. The wide distribution of Pn-AqpC orthologs suggests its importance in pneumococcal pathogenicity.