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Intracranial Subarachnoidal Route of Infection for Investigating Roles of Streptococcus suis Biofilms in Meningitis in a Mouse Infection Model
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Invasion of porcine brain microvascular endothelial cells by Streptococcus suis serotype 2

Ghyslaine Vanier1, Mariela Segura, Peter Friedl

  • 1Groupe de Recherche sur les Maladies Infectieuses du Porc (GREMIP), Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Québec, Canada.

Infection and Immunity
|February 24, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Streptococcus suis invades porcine brain microvascular endothelial cells, crossing the blood-brain barrier to cause meningitis. Suilysin toxin contributes to S. suis cytotoxicity in these cells.

Area of Science:

  • Veterinary Microbiology
  • Pathogenesis Research
  • Bacterial-Host Interactions

Background:

  • Streptococcus suis is a significant swine pathogen causing meningitis and other infections.
  • The precise mechanisms of S. suis pathogenesis, particularly meningitis, remain incompletely understood.
  • Crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is crucial for S. suis to induce meningitis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the interaction between Streptococcus suis serotype 2 and porcine brain microvascular endothelial cells (PBMEC).
  • To elucidate the mechanisms by which S. suis adheres to and invades PBMEC.
  • To assess the role of suilysin in the cytotoxicity of S. suis towards PBMEC.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized antibiotic protection assays and electron microscopy to demonstrate S. suis adherence and invasion of PBMEC.
  • Conducted inhibition studies using actin and microtubule inhibitors to identify invasion pathways.
  • Investigated the role of suilysin through experiments with purified toxin and a suilysin-negative mutant.

Main Results:

  • Demonstrated adherence and invasion of PBMEC by S. suis serotype 2 strains.
  • Found that intracellular S. suis remained viable in PBMEC for up to 7 hours.
  • Identified actin microfilaments as essential for invasion, while microtubules and bacterial synthesis were not.
  • Confirmed suilysin as a key factor in S. suis-induced cytotoxicity towards PBMEC.

Conclusions:

  • Streptococcus suis serotype 2 invades porcine brain microvascular endothelial cells, a critical step in meningitis pathogenesis.
  • Bacterial invasion relies on host cell actin cytoskeleton but not microtubule or active bacterial synthesis.
  • Suilysin is a virulence factor contributing to S. suis-induced endothelial cell damage.

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