Streptococcus pneumoniae, or pneumococcus, is Gram-positive, anaerobic member of the genus Streptococcus. Despite the name, the organism causes many types of pneumococcal infections other than pneumonia, and is the most common cause of bacterial meningitis in adults, children, and dogs.
This organism has a slimy capsule composed primarily of polysacccharide polymers. How does this provide an advantage to the organism?