S. D. Aggarwal

Rewiring capsule production by CRISPRi-based genetic oscillators demonstrates a functional role of phenotypic variation in pneumococcal-host interactions

This study uses CRISPRi-based oscillators to show that capsule production variation benefits pneumococcal pathogenesis.

BlpC-mediated selfish program leads to rapid loss of Streptococcus pneumoniae clonal diversity during infection

The paper shows that BlpC-mediated intra-strain competition reduces clonal diversity in Streptococcus pneumoniae during infection and transmission.

Neuraminidase B controls neuraminidase A-dependent mucus production and evasion

This study identifies the role of neuraminidase B in mucus evasion and mucus production by Streptococcus pneumoniae through enzymatic activity and gene regulation.

Competence-associated peptide BriC alters fatty acid biosynthesis in Streptococcus pneumoniae

This study shows BriC, a communication peptide in Streptococcus pneumoniae, regulates fatty acid biosynthesis by affecting FabT transcription and membrane lipid composition.

A Molecular Link between Cell Wall Modification and Stringent Response in a Gram-positive Bacteria

This paper shows that cell wall modification enzymes in Streptococcus pneumoniae modulate the stringent response by controlling translation quality control and preventing premature entry into stationary phase under stress.

Function of BriC Peptide in the Pneumococcal Competence and Virulence Portfolio

This study identifies BriC as a competence-induced gene in Streptococcus pneumoniae that promotes biofilm development and colonization, with its expression regulated by the ComE master regulator and showing genomic plasticity in some isolates.