Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 8, 2026

Inducing Meningococcal Meningitis Serogroup C in Mice via Intracisternal Delivery
10:03

Inducing Meningococcal Meningitis Serogroup C in Mice via Intracisternal Delivery

Published on: November 5, 2019

Meningococcal disease and future drug targets

L K Gammelgaard1, H Colding, S H Hartzen

  • 1Section of Neuroprotection, Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3, 18.1.44, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark.

CNS & Neurological Disorders Drug Targets
|September 30, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Neisseria meningitidis causes severe infections like meningitis. New research shows that targeting bacterial toxins and host immune responses, alongside antibiotics, is crucial for improving patient outcomes in meningococcal disease.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Neuroscience
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Neisseria meningitidis causes sepsis, meningitis, and meningoencephalitis.
  • High mortality and morbidity persist despite antibiotic treatment.
  • Bacterial virulence factors and host immune responses drive disease severity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent studies on meningococcal disease pathophysiology.
  • To focus on bacterium-host interactions and their role in clinical outcomes.
  • To identify potential therapeutic targets for severe cases.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent scientific literature on N. meningitidis.
  • Analysis of bacterial virulence factors (lipopolysaccharide, etc.).
  • Examination of host immune responses and neuroinflammation.

Main Results:

  • Bacterial components mediate adhesion and invasion.
  • Host immune reactions exacerbate inflammation and neurodegeneration.
  • Bacterium-host interactions determine disease progression and fatality.

Conclusions:

  • Effective treatment requires antibiotics plus adjuvants targeting endotoxins and immune responses.
  • Host immune responses can worsen neuropathology and prognosis.
  • Endotoxic components are potential targets for neuroprotective adjuvants to improve meningoencephalitis management.

More Related Videos

Induction of Leptomeningeal Cells Modification Via Intracisternal Injection05:55

Induction of Leptomeningeal Cells Modification Via Intracisternal Injection

Published on: May 7, 2020

Humanized Mouse Model to Study Bacterial Infections Targeting the Microvasculature11:40

Humanized Mouse Model to Study Bacterial Infections Targeting the Microvasculature

Published on: April 1, 2014

Related Concept Videos

Bacterial Meningitis II: Pathophysiology01:26

Bacterial Meningitis II: Pathophysiology

Bacterial meningitis typically begins when pathogens such as Neisseria meningitidis and Streptococcus pneumoniae colonize the nasopharynx and invade the bloodstream. This process is facilitated by bacterial virulence factors, such as polysaccharide capsules, which resist phagocytosis and complement-mediated killing. Less commonly, bacteria reach the central nervous system via contiguous spread from infections like otitis media or sinusitis, through congenital or acquired dural defects, or...
Cryptococcal Meningitis01:27

Cryptococcal Meningitis

Cryptococcal meningitis is a life-threatening opportunistic infection predominantly associated with HIV/AIDS, accounting for over 100,000 deaths annually worldwide. However, it also affects individuals with other forms of immunosuppression, including those undergoing immunosuppressive therapy, organ transplant recipients, patients with innate immunodeficiencies, and individuals with hematological disorders. The infection is caused mainly by Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii,...
Bacterial Meningitis I: Introduction01:22

Bacterial Meningitis I: Introduction

Bacterial meningitis is a severe, life-threatening inflammation of the meninges, particularly the pia mater and arachnoid mater, affecting the subarachnoid space, ventricles, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). If untreated, it can lead to significant neurological complications or death.Causative AgentsCommon pathogens vary with age and immune status. In adults, major organisms include Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, and Haemophilus influenzae. Streptococcus agalactiae (group B...
Bacterial Meningitis01:24

Bacterial Meningitis

Bacterial meningitis is a severe infectious disease involving inflammation of the meninges, the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. It occurs when pathogenic bacteria cross the blood–brain barrier and enter the cerebrospinal fluid. Common causative organisms include Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae type b, Listeria monocytogenes, and Escherichia coli K1. The exact route of entry varies by pathogen and host condition.Routes of Entry...
Pharmacogenomics: Identification of New Drug Targets01:29

Pharmacogenomics: Identification of New Drug Targets

Advances in genomics have profoundly influenced drug discovery by increasing both the speed and accuracy of pharmaceutical development. Pharmacogenomics, which examines how genetic variation influences drug response, facilitates the identification of novel therapeutic targets and enables patient stratification for personalized treatment. These strategies contribute to improved drug efficacy, minimized adverse effects, and more efficient clinical trial design.Mapping genetic differences...
Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance01:25

Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) presents a critical public health threat, arising from its capacity to resist β-lactam antibiotics due to acquisition of the mecA gene within the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec). This gene encodes penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a), which impairs binding efficacy of methicillin and other β-lactams. MRSA has evolved into distinct clonal lineages impacting humans and animals alike, reinforcing its significance within the One...