Scientists at the National Institutes of Health recently discovered the way Salmonella moves to the human brain and causes bacterial meningitis. The discovery provides researchers a new way to study -- and perhaps treat or eliminate -- the disease.
The scientists infected mice with Salmonella and identified its pathway from the GI tract to the blood and to the brain, causing damage similar to what is seen in human meningitis.
Salmonella is believed to be one of the most prevalent causes of meningitis and is blamed for a high mortality rate worldwide. The disease is both difficult to diagnose and to treat, and even those who survive it often suffer from permanent brain damage.
Collaborators in the research said they will now work to identify how Salmonella infects and causes damage in the brain, including the involvement of immune cells. They will also work on potential treatments to stop Salmonella from infecting the central nervous system.
