TY - JOUR
T1 - A Visual Review of the Human Pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae
AU - Engholm, Ditte Høyer
AU - Kilian, Mogens
AU - Goodsell, David
AU - Andersen, Ebbe Sloth
AU - Kjærgaard, Rikke Schmidt
PY - 2017/11/1
Y1 - 2017/11/1
N2 - Being the principal causative agent of bacterial pneumonia, otitis media, meningitis and septicemia, the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major global health problem. To highlight the molecular basis of this problem, we have portrayed essential biological processes of the pneumococcal life cycle in eight watercolor paintings. The paintings are done to a consistent nanometer scale based on currently available data from structural biology and proteomics. In this review article, the paintings are used to provide a visual review of protein synthesis, carbohydrate metabolism, cell wall synthesis, cell division, teichoic acid synthesis, virulence, transformation and pilus synthesis based on the available scientific literature within the field of pneumococcal biology. Visualization of the molecular details of these processes reveals several scientific questions about how molecular components of the pneumococcal cell are organized to allow biological function to take place. By the presentation of this visual review, we intend to stimulate scientific discussion, aid in the generation of scientific hypotheses and increase public awareness. A narrated video describing the biological processes in the context of a whole-cell illustration accompany this article.
AB - Being the principal causative agent of bacterial pneumonia, otitis media, meningitis and septicemia, the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major global health problem. To highlight the molecular basis of this problem, we have portrayed essential biological processes of the pneumococcal life cycle in eight watercolor paintings. The paintings are done to a consistent nanometer scale based on currently available data from structural biology and proteomics. In this review article, the paintings are used to provide a visual review of protein synthesis, carbohydrate metabolism, cell wall synthesis, cell division, teichoic acid synthesis, virulence, transformation and pilus synthesis based on the available scientific literature within the field of pneumococcal biology. Visualization of the molecular details of these processes reveals several scientific questions about how molecular components of the pneumococcal cell are organized to allow biological function to take place. By the presentation of this visual review, we intend to stimulate scientific discussion, aid in the generation of scientific hypotheses and increase public awareness. A narrated video describing the biological processes in the context of a whole-cell illustration accompany this article.
KW - Molecular landscape
KW - Pneumococcal biology
KW - Scientific illustration
KW - Streptococcus pneumoniae
KW - Visual review
KW - Watercolor painting
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85037993316&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1093/femsre/fux037
DO - 10.1093/femsre/fux037
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 29029129
SN - 0168-6445
VL - 41
SP - 854
EP - 879
JO - F E M S Microbiology Reviews
JF - F E M S Microbiology Reviews
IS - 6
ER -