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Pathogenesis of meningococcemia

Mathieu Coureuil1, Olivier Join-Lambert, Hervé Lécuyer

  • 1INSERM, Unité U1002, Paris, France.

Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine
|June 5, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Neisseria meningitidis causes meningitis and septicemia by interacting with endothelial cells. This interaction, mediated by type IV pili, forms microcolonies and leads to severe diseases like septic shock.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Pathogenesis
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Neisseria meningitidis causes meningitis and septicemia.
  • Septicemia can lead to purpura fulminans and septic shock.
  • These diseases stem from meningococcal interaction with host endothelial cells.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the mechanism of Neisseria meningitidis interaction with host endothelial cells.
  • To understand how this interaction leads to meningitis and septic shock.

Main Methods:

  • Investigated the role of type IV pili in meningococcal adhesion.
  • Analyzed the formation of microcolonies and microbiological synapses on endothelial cells.
  • Correlated bacterial load and vessel colonization with disease severity.

Main Results:

  • Type IV pili mediate meningococcal attachment and microcolony formation on endothelial cells.
  • This interaction activates host cell signaling, forming a microbiological synapse.
  • Low bacteremia favors meningitis; high bacteremia and vessel colonization cause severe septic shock.

Conclusions:

  • Neisseria meningitidis utilizes type IV pili to interact with endothelial cells, initiating disease.
  • The level of bacteremia and vessel colonization dictates the clinical outcome, ranging from meningitis to fatal septic shock.

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