Table 1. Novel virulence factors of the pneumococcus.

Virulence factor	Function	Outcome	Reference
PbIB (cell wall, phage-encoded platelet-binding protein)	Pro-adhesive, also binds to galactose- containing residues on lung epithelium	Promotes nasopharyngeal colonization	78
DiiA (cell wall protein)	Pro-adhesive, binds to collagen and lactoferrin	Promotes nasopharyngeal colonization and dissemination	79
GH20C (a novel, presumably cell wall, β-hexosamidase)	Involved in nutrient acquisition by processing hexosaminide sugars from host glycans	Promotes growth and persistence	80
Bg1A3 (a cell membrane 6-phospho-β-glucosidase)	Converts phosphorylated substrates to usable, nutrient monosaccharides	Promotes survival and virulence	81
Spbhp-37 (cell wall hemoglobin- binding protein)	Iron acquisition	Growth and infectivity	82
Elongation factor Tu (Tuf), a protein with both cytoplasmic and cell surface locations	Binds inactivators of the complement systems (Factor H and complement Factor H-related protein 1) preventing complement-mediated attack	Immune evasion, virulence	83
Polyamine transporter, potABCD	Promotes uptake of polyamines which protect against acid and reactive oxygen species and promotes biofilm formation	Immune evasion, virulence	84
L-Ascorbate-6-phosphate lactonase, a protein with a cell membrane location	Highly conserved enzyme with metallo-β- lactamase activity	Possible contributor to β-lactam antibiotic resistance	85