Increased permeability of blood-brain barrier is mediated by serine protease during Cryptococcus meningitis.

Objectives: To determine the role of serine protease in the disruption of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) during Cryptococcus neoformans meningitis.

Methods: Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry were used to determine the production of serine protease by different strains of C. neoformans.