Olfactory ensheathing cells as putative host cells for Streptococcus pneumoniae: Evidence of bacterial invasion via mannose receptor-mediated endocytosis

▶ Olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) express mannose receptor (MR), a C-type lectin. ▶ Cultured OECs endocytose a pathogenic Streptcoccus pneumoniae (Sp) strain (ATCC49619). ▶ MR-immunoreactive clusters appear nearby Sp, suggesting MR-mediated endocytosis.