Infection of endothelial cells by N. meningitidis (blue) induces the massive recruitment of ezrin and adhesion molecules (red), preventing their accumulation at leukocyte (green) contact sites.

Abug that causes meningitis does not like to share. On page 627, Doulet et al. show that it hoards actin-binding proteins away from immune cells. The hoarding allows the bacterium to cross the blood–brain barrier and to prevent immune cells from responding.

Many inflammation-inducing leukocytes pass from the bloodstream to infected tissues through loosened endothelial cell–cell junctions. The endothelial cells form cup-like actin structures that help leukocytes adhere and migrate. But these cups did not form on endothelial cells where extracellular colonies of Neisseria meningitidis grew, the authors found. Leukocytes thus failed to migrate to cell junctions and were easily detached from the surface by flow.

Cups were absent because the bug sequestered away host ezrin and moesin....

The Rockefeller University Press
2006
The Rockefeller University Press
2006
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