GENETIC FEATURES OF STREPTOCOCCUS PNEUMONIAE AND ITS ROLE IN CAUSING MENINGITIS

Objective: To understand the mechanism by which Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) causes meningitis and the resulting central nervous system (CNS) injury, focusing on bacterial features and the host immune response. Methods: A comprehensive review of existing literature on the role of CNS barriers, nasopharyngeal colonization, and the genetic features of S. pneumoniae was conducted. The antibacterial and inflammatory responses of the human CNS defense system were analyzed alongside bacterial traits that promote meningitis. Results: The study highlights how S. pneumoniae crosses CNS barriers to cause meningitis and the subsequent inflammatory damage to the CNS. It identifies both bacterial genetic factors and host immune responses that contribute to the severity of the disease. Novelty: This review presents an in-depth look at the geneticand immune system interactions involved in CNS injury following S. pneumoniae infection, and discusses emerging treatment strategies with potential for reducing treatment-associated damage