blood-brain barrier
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyZika Virus Infection Promotes Local Inflammation, Cell Adhesion Molecule Upregulation, and Leukocyte Recruitment at the Blood-Brain BarrierZika virus (ZIKV) can be associated with neurological impairment in children and adults. To reach the central nervous system, viruses have to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB), a multicellular system allowing a tight separation between the bloodstream and the brain. Here, we show that ZIKV infects cells of the BBB and triggers a subtle change in its permeability. Moreover, ZIKV infection leads to the production of inflammatory...
Research Article | Therapeutics and PreventionAn Antivirulence Approach for Preventing Cryptococcus neoformans from Crossing the Blood-Brain Barrier via Novel Natural Product Inhibitors of a Fungal MetalloproteaseFungal infections like cryptococcal meningitis are difficult to resolve because of the limited therapies available. The small arsenal of antifungal drugs reflect the difficulty in finding available targets in fungi because like mammalian cells, fungi are eukaryotes. The limited efficacy, toxicity, and rising resistance of antifungals contribute to the high morbidity and mortality of fungal infections and further underscore the dire but...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyEncephalitic Alphaviruses Exploit Caveola-Mediated Transcytosis at the Blood-Brain Barrier for Central Nervous System EntryVEEV, WEEV, and eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) are emerging infectious diseases in the Americas, and they have caused several major outbreaks in the human and horse population during the past few decades. Shortly after infection, these viruses can infect the CNS, resulting in severe long-term neurological deficits or death. Neuroinvasion has been associated with virus entry into the CNS directly from the bloodstream; however,...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyGamma Interferon Alters Junctional Integrity via Rho Kinase, Resulting in Blood-Brain Barrier Leakage in Experimental Viral EncephalitisIn an experimental viral encephalitis mouse model in which mice are infected with reovirus, we show that IFN-γ induces blood-brain barrier leakage. We show that IFN-γ promotes Rho kinase activity, resulting in actin cytoskeletal contractions in the brain endothelium that lead to vascular junctional disorganization and cell-cell separations. These studies now provide insight into a previously unknown mechanism for how blood-brain barrier...