title: Pathogenesis of meningococcemia.
abstract: Neisseria meningitidis is responsible for two major diseases: cerebrospinal meningitis and/or septicemia. The latter can lead to a purpura fulminans, an often-fatal condition owing to the associated septic shock. These two clinical aspects of the meningococcal infection are consequences of a tight interaction of meningococci with host endothelial cells. This interaction, mediated by the type IV pili, is responsible for the formation of microcolonies on the apical surface of the cells. This interaction is followed by the activation of signaling pathways in the host cells leading to the formation of a microbiological synapse. A low level of bacteremia is likely to favor the colonization of brain vessels, leading to bacterial meningitis, whereas the colonization of a large number of vessels by a high number of bacteria is responsible for one of the most severe forms of septic shock observed.
authors.affiliation: INSERM, Unité U1002, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Mathieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Coureuil
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Join-Lambert
authors.forename: Hervé
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lécuyer
authors.forename: Sandrine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bourdoulous
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marullo
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Nassif
mesh_terms: D016470:Bacteremia / Q000382:microbiology*; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D058491:Bacterial Load; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000382:microbiology; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D051356:Cortactin / Q000378:metabolism; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000382:microbiology; D010861:Fimbriae, Bacterial / Q000502:physiology; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D055665:Purpura Fulminans / Q000382:microbiology; D018343:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D051356:Cortactin; D018343:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2