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Inducing Meningococcal Meningitis Serogroup C in Mice via Intracisternal Delivery
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Pathogenesis and pathophysiology of meningitis

A R Tunkel1, B Wispelwey, W M Scheld

  • 1Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville.

Infectious Disease Clinics of North America
|December 1, 1990
PubMed

Insights

Experimental animal models advance understanding of meningitis pathogenesis. These models investigate bacterial, fungal, and viral meningitis, paving the way for novel treatments.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Meningitis pathogenesis and pathophysiology are primarily understood through experimental animal models.
  • These models are crucial for studying bacterial meningitis, focusing on virulence factors, central nervous system (CNS) invasion, and subarachnoid space (SAS) inflammation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review advances in understanding the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of bacterial, fungal, and viral meningitis.
  • To highlight the role of experimental animal models in this understanding.
  • To explore the potential for developing innovative treatment strategies based on these advances.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing experimental animal models to study meningitis.
  • Investigating bacterial virulence factors and host inflammatory cytokine responses.
  • Examining the pathophysiology of CNS invasion and inflammation in bacterial, fungal (Cryptococcus neoformans), and viral meningitis.

Main Results:

  • Experimental models have elucidated bacterial virulence factors' roles in CNS infection and inflammation.
  • Host inflammatory cytokines are implicated in pathophysiological consequences like increased blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability, cerebral edema, and intracranial pressure.
  • Understanding C. neoformans meningitis in immunocompromised individuals (e.g., AIDS) and viral meningitis mechanisms (hematogenous dissemination) is enhanced.

Conclusions:

  • Advances in understanding meningitis pathogenesis and pathophysiology through animal models are significant.
  • These insights into bacterial, fungal, and viral meningitis mechanisms offer potential for novel therapeutic strategies.
  • Further research using these models may lead to improved treatments for various forms of meningitis.

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