Decoding the Pneumococcal Capsule With Moon Nahm

Decoding the Pneumococcal Capsule With Moon Nahm

From Meet the Microbiologist by Ashley Hagen, M.S.

March 28, 2026 · 42 min · Episode 172

About this episode

Moon Nahm discusses his career and contributions to pneumococcal immunology and vaccine development.

Moon Nahm, M.D., professor emeritus at UAB Department of Medicine and Director of the World Health Organization's Pneumococcal Serology Reference Laboratory at UAB, discusses his career in pneumococcal immunology. From uncovering the WU2 reference strain and other hidden serotypes to pioneering Multiplexed Opsono-Phagocytosis Assay (MOPA) to measure the functional activity of anti-pneumococcal antibodies, Nahm's contributions have facilitated development of advanced vaccines with broader protection and accessibility. Links for This Episode UAB Spotlight on Moon Nahm . Discovery and Characterization of Pneumococcal Serogroup 36 Capsule Subtypes, Serotypes 36A and 36B . Journal of Clinical Microbiology paper, March 27, 2003. A New Pneumococcal Capsule Type, 10D, is the 100th Serotype and Has a Large cps Fragment from an Oral Streptococcus . mBio, May 19, 2020. 50 years—and change . WashU Magazine . MTM Listener Survey

People in this episode

Guest: Moon Nahm

Topics covered

  • pneumococcal immunology
  • vaccines
  • serotypes
  • antibodies

Keywords

  • pneumococcal capsule
  • MOPA
  • WU2 reference strain

Mentioned in this episode

Products: Multiplexed Opsono-Phagocytosis Assay

Books & works: Decoding the Pneumococcal Capsule, UAB Spotlight on Moon Nahm

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