Therefore, the identified allelic variation in the proline-rich repeat region of pspC from our GWAS analysis results in differential propensity of the strains to translocate across the blood–brain barrier to the CNS to cause meningitis by modulating pneumococcal interaction with the laminin-integrin receptor, thus, highlighting pspC as a novel target for clinical interventions. This evidence concerns the gene SFTPC and meningitis.