This volume looks at the newest methods, materials, equipment, and technologies developed to study the cell biology of the pneumococcus. The chapters, which cover a wide range of topics, are organized into six parts: Part one discusses the cultivation of Streptococcus pneumoniae in vitro; Part Two talks about the microscopy techniques used to study the biology of Streptococcus pneumoniae and pneumococcal interactions with the host; Parts Three and Four describe the genetics, proteome, and proteomics of Streptococcus pneumoniae; Part Five explains in vitro and in vivo models of Streptococcus pneumoniae-host interactions; and Part Six looks at the factors of public health, epidemiology, and biostatistics. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.
Cutting-edge and authoritative, Streptococcus pneumoniae: Methods and Protocols is a valuable resource for both novice and expert researchers who want to expand their studies into new areas and new systems in this continuously evolving field.

Optimal Conditions for Streptococcus pneumoniae Culture: In Solid and Liquid Media.- Electron Microscopy to Study the Fine Structure of the Pneumococcal Cell.- Immunofluorescent Staining and High-Resolution Microscopy to Study the Pneumococcal Cell.- Construction of Fluorescent Pneumococci for In Vivo Imaging and Labeling of the Chromosome.- High-Resolution and Super-Resolution Immunofluorescent Microscopy Ex Vivo to Study Pneumococcal Interactions with the Host.- Natural Genetic Transformation: A Direct Route to Easy Insertion of Chimeric Genes into the Pneumococcal Chromosome.- Gene Expression Analysis in the Pneumococcus.- Transcriptional Knockdown in Pneumococci using CRISPR Interference.- Protein Expression Analysis by Western Blot and Protein-Protein Interactions.- Mass Spectrometry to Study the Bacterial Proteome from a Single Colony.- Bead-Based Flow Cytometric Cell Counting of Live and Dead Bacteria.- In Vitro Adhesion, Invasion, and Transcytosis of Streptococcus pneumonia with Host Cells.- Growing and Characterizing Biofilms Formed by Streptococcus pneumoniae.- In Vivo Mouse Models to Study How Pneumococci Interact with the Host and Cause Invasive Pneumococcal Disease.- Two-Photon Intravital Imaging of Leukocytes in the Trachea during Pneumococcal Infection.- IVIS Spectrum CT to Image the Progression of Pneumococcal Infections In Vivo.- The Pneumococcus and Its Critical Role in Public Health.- The Epidemiology and Biostatistics of Pneumococcus.