Interactions and Signal Transduction Pathways Involved during Central Nervous System Entry by <i>Neisseria meningitidis</i> across the Blood–Brain Barriers
The Gram-negative diplococcus <i>Neisseria meningitidis</i>, also called meningococcus, exclusively infects humans and can cause meningitis, a severe disease that can lead to the death of the afflicted individuals. To cause meningitis, the bacteria have to enter the central nervous syste...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-11-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/21/22/8788 |
| _version_ | 1797547284499529728 |
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| author | Julia Borkowski Horst Schroten Christian Schwerk |
| author_facet | Julia Borkowski Horst Schroten Christian Schwerk |
| author_sort | Julia Borkowski |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Gram-negative diplococcus <i>Neisseria meningitidis</i>, also called meningococcus, exclusively infects humans and can cause meningitis, a severe disease that can lead to the death of the afflicted individuals. To cause meningitis, the bacteria have to enter the central nervous system (CNS) by crossing one of the barriers protecting the CNS from entry by pathogens. These barriers are represented by the blood–brain barrier separating the blood from the brain parenchyma and the blood–cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) barriers at the choroid plexus and the meninges. During the course of meningococcal disease resulting in meningitis, the bacteria undergo several interactions with host cells, including the pharyngeal epithelium and the cells constituting the barriers between the blood and the CSF. These interactions are required to initiate signal transduction pathways that are involved during the crossing of the meningococci into the blood stream and CNS entry, as well as in the host cell response to infection. In this review we summarize the interactions and pathways involved in these processes, whose understanding could help to better understand the pathogenesis of meningococcal meningitis. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:42:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-94d039004b734ceb97f2be2470034d6f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1661-6596 1422-0067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:42:09Z |
| publishDate | 2020-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-94d039004b734ceb97f2be2470034d6f2023-11-20T21:43:31ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1661-65961422-00672020-11-012122878810.3390/ijms21228788Interactions and Signal Transduction Pathways Involved during Central Nervous System Entry by <i>Neisseria meningitidis</i> across the Blood–Brain BarriersJulia Borkowski0Horst Schroten1Christian Schwerk2Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, D-68167 Mannheim, GermanyPediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, D-68167 Mannheim, GermanyPediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, D-68167 Mannheim, GermanyThe Gram-negative diplococcus <i>Neisseria meningitidis</i>, also called meningococcus, exclusively infects humans and can cause meningitis, a severe disease that can lead to the death of the afflicted individuals. To cause meningitis, the bacteria have to enter the central nervous system (CNS) by crossing one of the barriers protecting the CNS from entry by pathogens. These barriers are represented by the blood–brain barrier separating the blood from the brain parenchyma and the blood–cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) barriers at the choroid plexus and the meninges. During the course of meningococcal disease resulting in meningitis, the bacteria undergo several interactions with host cells, including the pharyngeal epithelium and the cells constituting the barriers between the blood and the CSF. These interactions are required to initiate signal transduction pathways that are involved during the crossing of the meningococci into the blood stream and CNS entry, as well as in the host cell response to infection. In this review we summarize the interactions and pathways involved in these processes, whose understanding could help to better understand the pathogenesis of meningococcal meningitis.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/21/22/8788blood–brain barrierblood–CSF barrierhost-pathogen interactionmeningeal barriermeningitis<i>Neisseria meningitidis</i> |
| spellingShingle | Julia Borkowski Horst Schroten Christian Schwerk Interactions and Signal Transduction Pathways Involved during Central Nervous System Entry by <i>Neisseria meningitidis</i> across the Blood–Brain Barriers International Journal of Molecular Sciences blood–brain barrier blood–CSF barrier host-pathogen interaction meningeal barrier meningitis <i>Neisseria meningitidis</i> |
| title | Interactions and Signal Transduction Pathways Involved during Central Nervous System Entry by <i>Neisseria meningitidis</i> across the Blood–Brain Barriers |
| title_full | Interactions and Signal Transduction Pathways Involved during Central Nervous System Entry by <i>Neisseria meningitidis</i> across the Blood–Brain Barriers |
| title_fullStr | Interactions and Signal Transduction Pathways Involved during Central Nervous System Entry by <i>Neisseria meningitidis</i> across the Blood–Brain Barriers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Interactions and Signal Transduction Pathways Involved during Central Nervous System Entry by <i>Neisseria meningitidis</i> across the Blood–Brain Barriers |
| title_short | Interactions and Signal Transduction Pathways Involved during Central Nervous System Entry by <i>Neisseria meningitidis</i> across the Blood–Brain Barriers |
| title_sort | interactions and signal transduction pathways involved during central nervous system entry by i neisseria meningitidis i across the blood brain barriers |
| topic | blood–brain barrier blood–CSF barrier host-pathogen interaction meningeal barrier meningitis <i>Neisseria meningitidis</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/21/22/8788 |
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