The MOST important contribution of the capsule of Streptococcus pneumoniae to virulence is:

  •  To prevent dehydration of the organisms on mucosal surfaces
  •  To inhibit polymorphonuclear leukocyte chemotaxis
  •   To retard phagocytosis by polymorphonuclear leukocytes
  •  To accelerate tissue invasion by its collagenase-like activity