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Humanized Mouse Model to Study Bacterial Infections Targeting the Microvasculature
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A receptor for meningococcus: eliciting β-arrestin signaling for barrier breaching

Jérôme Tourret1, B Brett Finlay

  • 1Michael Smith Laboratories, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, #301-2185 East Mall, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada. jerome.tourret@gmail.com

Developmental Cell
|January 18, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Neisseria meningitidis uses type IV pili to bind to endothelial β2-adrenoceptors. This interaction triggers signaling that leads to bacterial migration and meningitis.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Cell Biology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Neisseria meningitidis is a bacterium that causes meningitis.
  • Type IV pili are involved in bacterial adhesion and invasion.
  • Endothelial receptors play a role in host-pathogen interactions.

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