Identification of pneumococci by lytA-based methodologies may lead to false results.
A pneumococcal carriage strain harbouring a lytA homologue is described.
Two invasive S. pseudopneumoniae harbouring the pneumococcal lytA are described.
These strains are misidentified by the WHO recommended lytA-real time PCR assay.
Three novel lytA-BsaAI-RFLP signatures are described.