Different Involvement of Vimentin during Invasion by at the Blood-Brain and the Blood-Cerebrospinal Fluid Barriers In Vitro.

The human central nervous system (CNS) is separated from the blood by distinct cellular barriers, including the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and the blood-cerebrospinal fluid (CFS) barrier (BCSFB). Whereas at the center of the BBB are the endothelial cells of the brain capillaries, the BCSFB is formed by the epithelium of the choroid plexus. Invasion of cells of either the BBB or the BCSFB is a potential first step during CNS entry by the Gram-positive bacterium ().

Potential Roles and Functions of Listerial Virulence Factors during Brain Entry.

Although it rarely induces disease in humans, () is important due to the frequency of serious pathological conditions-such as sepsis and meningitis-it causes in those few people that do get infected. Virulence factors (VF) of -especially those involved in the passage through multiple cellular barriers of the body, including internalin (Inl) family members and listeriolysin O (LLO)-have been investigated both in vitro and in vivo, but the majority of work was focused on the mechanisms utilized during penetration of the gut and fetoplacental barriers. The role of listerial VF during entry into other organs remain as only partially solved puzzles.