Complement and surfactant protein D in the innate immunity to streptoccus pneumoniae

The aim of this project was to investigate the role of complement and lung surfactant protein D in innate immunity to S. pneumoniae. Pneumolysin, a cytolytic toxin produced by S. pneumoniae, is able to activate the classical complement pathway. The deletion of the ability of pneumolysin to activate complement affected the early growth of pneumococcus in the lungs, the onset of bacteraemia, the histological changes and the recruitment of T lymphocytes into lung tissue during bronchopneimionia.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo