Interaction mechanisms of encapsulated meningococci with eucaryotic cells:what does this tell us about the crossing of the blood-brain barrier by Neisseria meningitidis?

An important feature of Neisseria meningitidis is its ability to invade the meninges. This requires that bacteria cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which is one of the tightest barriers of the body. N. meningitidis has, th erefore, evolved very sophisticated means by which ii circumvents the physi cal properties of this cellular barrier. Recent advances have allowed the i dentification of several steps that might occur in the interaction of N. me ningitidis with the BBB and the transit of the bacteria to the meninges.