title: Unravelling the neuropathogenesis of Japanese encephalitis.
abstract: Japanese encephalitis is a devastating disease that causes a frequently fatal encephalitis and is a major health problem throughout much of Asia. Mortality rates can be as high as 30%, with one-third of survivors suffering severe neurological sequelae. Viral cytopathology is important, but the contribution of blood-brain barrier breakdown, the inflammatory response and bystander cell death are unknown. Studies that address the mechanisms producing neuronal dysfunction and damage are required, including the examination of autopsy tissues. A better understanding of these mechanisms may lead to therapeutic strategies to reduce brain injury and neurological sequelae.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, 315/6 Rajvithi Road, Bangkok 10400, Thailand. myintk@afrims.org
authors.forename: Khin Saw Aye
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Myint
authors.forename: Robert V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Gibbons
authors.forename: Guey Chuen
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Perng
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Solomon
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D001208:Asia; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000378:metabolism; D004672:Encephalitis, Japanese / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans