Niche-specific contribution of the branched-chain amino acid biosynthesis protein IlvD in Streptococcus pneumoniae infection
Sumit Kumar, Angharad E. Green, Leonie Johanna Lorenz, Shaw Camphire, Ashima Wadhawan, Natalie O. Munroe, Kyle Newbold, Graeme Ball, Emily Khlebutina, Marc Dionne, Stephanie W. Lo, Daniel R. Neill
This study identifies mutations in ilvD, encoding a BCAA biosynthesis protein, as beneficial for pneumococcal survival in blood but detrimental for nasopharyngeal colonization.
bioRxiv · Jul 16, 2026 · PreprintMicrobiology