Competence-programmed predation of noncompetent cells in the human pathogen <i>Streptococcus pneumoniae</i> : Genetic requirements

Abstract excerpt

Natural competence for genetic transformation is the best-characterized feature of the major human pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae. Recent studies have shown the virulence of competence-deficient mutants to be attenuated, but the nature of the connection between competence and virulence remained unknown. Here we document the release, triggered by competent cells, of virulence factors (e.g., the cytolytic toxin...

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