Type I IFN expression is stimulated by cytosolic Mt DNA released from pneumolysin‐damaged mitochondria via the STING signaling pathway in macrophages

Pneumolysin (Ply), a major virulence factor of Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pn) , affects the immunity of host cells during infection. It has been reported that Ply is involved in S. pn standard strain D39‐induced interferon‐β ( IFN ‐β) expression; however, other findings suggest that recombinant Ply protein is incapable of triggering IFN ‐β expression. Here, we demonstrated that purified Ply was capable of initiating oxidative damage to...