[Severe pneumococcal infections: virulence aspects].

For many years, the virulence of S. pneumoniae has largely been attributed to its anti-phagocytic capsule. However S. pneumoniae elaborate other various factors that contribute to virulence. These include the toxin pneumolysin, lytic for all eukaryotic cells, and a variety of choline-binding surface proteins; the most abundant CbpA and PsaA function as cell surface adhesins, the autolysin LytA is responsible for release of lipoteichoic and techoic acids which are mediators of host inflammatory response, the role of PspA remains to be demonstrated. These factors contribute together to the colonization, protection from phagocytosis, invasion, inflammatory response, and tissue damage.