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Mechanics of vascular colonization by Neisseria meningitidis
Bacterial infection of human vasculature can lead to unregulated
systemic activation of coagulation and innate immunity and rapidly
becomes life threatening. Neisseria meningitidis is a vascular
pathogen that causes fatal septic shock and meningitis. Post-mortem
histological analysis of tissues from individuals infected with N.
meningitidis show large bacterial aggregates in close association with
the vascular wall of small vessels. The ability of this bacterium to
colonize blood vessel endothelium is likely to impact its capacity to
both multiply in the blood stream and reach the brain. This process is
referred to as vascular colonization. Recent work from our group
exploring the early steps in N. meningitidis vascular colonization
will be reported, from attachment to proliferation and dissemination,
focusing on the mechanics of bacterial–host interaction