title: Non-vertebrate models to study parasite invasion of the central nervous system.
abstract: Infections of the central nervous system due to neuroparasites have contributed significantly to morbidity and mortality. In part, this is because of our incomplete understanding of parasite traversal of the blood-brain barrier, a key step in the development of central nervous system infections, and the lack of available drugs that can cross the blood-brain barrier to gain entry into the brain to kill parasites. The novel in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo models of the blood-brain barrier can offer strategies to elucidate the physical barriers, cellular mechanisms and molecular elements participating from both sides of parasite-host interactions leading to neuropathogenesis. Improving our knowledge of these core processes might elevate the efficiency of therapy of diseases caused by them.
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, UK, LE12 5RD, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Ruqaiyyah
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Siddiqui
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pleass
authors.forename: Parisa
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mortazavi
authors.forename: Naveed Ahmed
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Khan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000469:parasitology*; D020807:Central Nervous System Parasitic Infections / Q000401:mortality / Q000469:parasitology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological