Therapeutic development of group B Streptococcus meningitis by targeting a host cell signaling network involving EGFR.

ABSTRACT: Group B Streptococcus (GBS) remains the most common Gram-positive bacterium causing neonatal meningitis and GBS meningitis continues to be an important cause of mortality and morbidity. In this study, we showed that GBS penetration into the brain occurred initially in the meningeal and cortex capillaries, and exploits a defined host cell signaling network comprised of S1P₂ , EGFR, and CysLT1. GBS exploitation of such network in penetration of the blood-brain barrier was demonstrated by targeting S1P₂ , EGFR, and CysLT1 using pharmacological inhibition, gene knockout and knockdown cells, and gene knockout animals, as well as interrogation of the network (up- and downstream of each other). More importantly, counteracting such targets as a therapeutic adjunct to antibiot

SUBMITTER: Zhu N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7933950 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature