TY - JOUR
T1 - Meningococcal disease and future drug targets
AU - Gammelgaard, L K
AU - Colding, H
AU - Hartzen, S H
AU - Penkowa, M
PY - 2011/2
Y1 - 2011/2
N2 - Neisseria meningitidis (N. meningitidis) causes sepsis, epidemic meningitis, and sometimes also meningoencephalitis. Despite early antibiotic treatment, mortality and morbidity remain significant. We present recent studies on meningococcal disease with focus on the pathophysiology caused by bacterial virulence factors and the host immune responses. The bacterial outer membrane lipopolysaccharide and non-lipopolysaccharide components are related to meningococcal adhesion and invasion, while the host immune reactions propagate inflammation and neurodegeneration. Hence, bacterium-host interactions are key determinants of the clinical course and risk of fatal outcome. Accordingly, successful treatment of severe meningococcal disease requires not only antibiotics but also adjuvants targeting the released endotoxins and the host immune/inflammatory responses. This review highlights the most recent data and current knowledge on molecular mechanisms of meningococcal disease and explains how host immune responses ultimately may aggravate neuropathology and the clinical prognosis. Within this context, particular importance is paid to the endotoxic components that provide potential drug targets for novel neuroprotective adjuvants, which are needed in order to improve the clinical management of meningoencephalitis and patient prognosis.
AB - Neisseria meningitidis (N. meningitidis) causes sepsis, epidemic meningitis, and sometimes also meningoencephalitis. Despite early antibiotic treatment, mortality and morbidity remain significant. We present recent studies on meningococcal disease with focus on the pathophysiology caused by bacterial virulence factors and the host immune responses. The bacterial outer membrane lipopolysaccharide and non-lipopolysaccharide components are related to meningococcal adhesion and invasion, while the host immune reactions propagate inflammation and neurodegeneration. Hence, bacterium-host interactions are key determinants of the clinical course and risk of fatal outcome. Accordingly, successful treatment of severe meningococcal disease requires not only antibiotics but also adjuvants targeting the released endotoxins and the host immune/inflammatory responses. This review highlights the most recent data and current knowledge on molecular mechanisms of meningococcal disease and explains how host immune responses ultimately may aggravate neuropathology and the clinical prognosis. Within this context, particular importance is paid to the endotoxic components that provide potential drug targets for novel neuroprotective adjuvants, which are needed in order to improve the clinical management of meningoencephalitis and patient prognosis.
KW - Anti-Bacterial Agents
KW - Host-Pathogen Interactions
KW - Humans
KW - Meningitis, Meningococcal
KW - Meningococcal Infections
KW - Meningoencephalitis
KW - Molecular Targeted Therapy
KW - Neisseria meningitidis
KW - Virulence Factors
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 20874698
SN - 1871-5273
VL - 10
SP - 140
EP - 145
JO - CNS and Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets
JF - CNS and Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets
IS - 1
ER -