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The blood–brain barrier (BBB) serves to protect the central nervous system (CNS) from damage by exogenous molecules. Japanese encephalitis (JE), caused by a neurotropic flavivirus, leads to inflammation in the CNS, neuronal death and also compromises the structural and functional integrity of the BBB. Minocycline, a semisynthetic tetracycline, has been found to be broadly protective in neurological disease models featuring inflammation and cell death and at present, is being evaluated in clinical trials. In the present study, we propose that the neuroprotective role of minocycline in experimental models of JE extends also to the protection of the BBB. Damage to the BBB was assessed by Evan's blue dye exclusion test after minocycline treatment following Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) infection. A breakdown of the BBB occurred in mice inoculated intravenously with JEV. This resulted in leakage of protein …