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Analyzing the Permeability of the Blood-Brain Barrier by Microbial Traversal through Microvascular Endothelial Cells
06:26

Analyzing the Permeability of the Blood-Brain Barrier by Microbial Traversal through Microvascular Endothelial Cells

Published on: February 14, 2020

Microbial translocation of the blood-brain barrier

Kwang Sik Kim1

  • 1Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 North Wolfe Street, Park 256, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA. kwangkim@jhmi.edu

International Journal for Parasitology
|March 18, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Understanding how pathogens cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is key to preventing CNS infections. This review details microbial translocation mechanisms across the BBB, focusing on host-pathogen interactions.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Central nervous system (CNS) infections contribute significantly to mortality and morbidity.
  • Pathogenesis of CNS infections remains incompletely understood, particularly pathogen translocation across the blood-brain barrier (BBB).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current understanding of pathogenic mechanisms involved in the translocation of the BBB by meningitis-causing pathogens.
  • To highlight the role of microbial-host interactions in BBB translocation.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizes an in vitro BBB model with human brain microvascular endothelial cells.
  • Summarizes recent studies on microbial translocation across the BBB.

Main Results:

  • Microbial translocation across the BBB is a critical step in CNS infection acquisition.
  • Host cell actin cytoskeletal rearrangements are involved in microbial translocation, driven by specific microbial-host interactions.

Conclusions:

  • Improved understanding of microbial-host interactions at the BBB is crucial for developing novel prevention strategies for CNS infections.
  • This review consolidates knowledge on BBB translocation by bacteria, fungi, and parasites causing meningitis.

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