Since the first attempts in the 1970s to isolate cerebral microvessel endothelial cells (CECs)
in order to model the blood–brain barrier (BBB) in vitro, the need for a human BBB model …

The brain is well protected against microbial invasion by cellular barriers, such as the blood-
brain barrier (BBB) and the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier (BCSFB). In addition, cells …

SUMMARY Type IV pili (T4P) are multifunctional protein fibers produced on the surfaces of a
wide variety of bacteria and archaea. The major subunit of T4P is the type IV pilin, and …

Neisseria meningitidis is a cause of meningitis epidemics worldwide and of rapidly
progressing fatal septic shock. A crucial step in the pathogenesis of invasive meningococcal …

Highlights•Pili minor components play a key role in the regulation of pili mediated
activities.•Adhesion is a multifactorial effect; adhesins may function in an orchestrated …

Neisseria meningitidis is a commensal of human nasopharynx. In some circumstances, this
bacteria can invade the bloodstream and, after crossing the blood brain barrier, the …

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 …

Neisseria meningitidis is a gram-negative diplococcus and a transient commensal of the
human nasopharynx. It shares and competes for this niche with a number of other Neisseria …

Neisserial Heparin Binding Antigen (NHBA) is a surface-exposed lipoprotein ubiquitously
expressed by Neisseria meningitidis strains and an antigen of the Bexsero® vaccine. NHBA …

Members of the genus Neisseria include pathogens causing important human diseases
such as meningitis, septicaemia, gonorrhoea and pelvic inflammatory disease syndrome …