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Host-pathogen interactions in bacterial meningitis

Kelly S Doran1,2, Marcus Fulde3,4, Nina Gratz5

  • 1Department of Biology and Center for Microbial Sciences, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA.

Acta Neuropathologica
|January 9, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Bacterial meningitis causes severe neurological damage. This review details how pathogens like Streptococcus pneumonia and E. coli K1 interact with the host, leading to brain inflammation and potential long-term effects.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Bacterial meningitis is a global disease with significant neurological sequelae.
  • Pathogenesis involves complex interactions between meningeal pathogens and host responses.
  • Specific lesions and clinical syndromes arise from nervous system tissue dysfunction.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent advancements in understanding molecular and cellular events in bacterial meningitis pathogenesis.
  • To focus on key neuroinvasive pathogens: Streptococcus pneumonia, Streptococcus agalactiae, Neisseria meningitidis, and Escherichia coli K1.
  • To include the zoonotic pathogen Streptococcus suis.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current literature on host-pathogen interactions in bacterial meningitis.
  • Focus on molecular and cellular mechanisms of neuroinvasion and inflammation.
  • Comparative analysis of common and specific pathogenic themes.

Main Results:

  • Identified common themes in host-pathogen interactions for neuroinvasive bacteria.
  • Detailed mechanisms of mucosal barrier invasion, bloodstream survival, and CNS entry.
  • Highlighted the induction of meningeal inflammation affecting the pia mater, arachnoid, and subarachnoid spaces.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding host-pathogen interactions is crucial for combating bacterial meningitis.
  • Specific pathogens share common strategies for neuroinvasion and causing inflammation.
  • Further research into these interactions can inform therapeutic strategies.
Keywords:
Bacterial meningitisEscherichia coli K1Group B StreptococcusMeningococciNeuroinfectiologyPneumococciStreptococcus suis

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