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Review
. 2011 Sep;45(6):523-39.
doi: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2011.02.305.

Alcohol abuse and Streptococcus pneumoniae infections: consideration of virulence factors and impaired immune responses

Minny Bhatty  1 , Stephen B Pruett, Edwin Swiatlo, Bindu Nanduri
Affiliations
Review

Alcohol abuse and Streptococcus pneumoniae infections: consideration of virulence factors and impaired immune responses

Minny Bhatty et al. Alcohol. 2011 Sep.

Abstract

Alcohol is the most frequently abused substance in the world. Both acute and chronic alcohol consumption have diverse and well-documented effects on the human immune system, leading to increased susceptibility to infections like bacterial pneumonia. Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common bacterial etiology of community-acquired pneumonia worldwide. The frequency and severity of pneumococcal infections in individuals with a history of alcohol abuse is much higher than the general population. Despite this obvious epidemiological relevance, very few experimental studies have focused on the interaction of pneumococci with the immune system of a host acutely or chronically exposed to alcohol. Understanding these host-pathogen interactions is imperative for designing effective prophylactic and therapeutic interventions for such populations. Recent advances in pneumococcal research have greatly improved our understanding of pneumococcal pathogenesis and virulence mechanisms. Additionally, a large body of data is available on the effect of alcohol on the physiology of the lungs and the innate and adaptive immune system of the host. The purpose of this review is to integrate the available knowledge in these diverse areas of for a better understanding of the how the compromised immune system derived from alcohol exposure responds to pneumococcal infections.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. Pneumococcal virulence factors
This figure was adapted from a previously published figure (Clin Microbiol Rev. 1998 11:645–57) and was provided by Dr. David E. Briles, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA. Abbreviations: PspA, pneumococcal surface protein A; PspC, pneumococcal surface protein C; CbpA, choline binding protein A.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2. Effect of alcohol on innate and adaptive immune responses important for defense against pneumococcal infections
Ch- chronic alcohol, Ac- acute alcohol, LTA- lipotechoic acid, ply- pneumolysin, pn-pneumococcal, inflam- inflammatory, resp-response, APC- antigen presenting cell, cyt-cytokines, ↑- increase, ↓- decrease, ↔ - No change, *In most studies, #Effects of alcohol on stimulated cells
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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