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BACTERIAL PATHOGENESIS

Streptococci target inflammasome

The Streptococcus pyogenes surface M protein is a critical multifunctional virulence factor. Recent work sheds light on a new unexpected function of the M protein in activating the host inflammasome to induce macrophage cell death and promote infection.

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Fig. 1: M-protein-mediated GAS virulence strategies.

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Correspondence to Madeleine W. Cunningham.

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The author declares financial interest in Moleculera Labs in Oklahoma City, OK, where she is Chief Scientific Officer.

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Cunningham, M.W. Streptococci target inflammasome. Nat Microbiol 2, 1334–1335 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41564-017-0031-4

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