The recent revelation that the gut microbiome, home to approximately 100 trillion
microorganisms, is implicated in the development of both health and disease has spurred an …

Bacteria and archaea rely on appendages called type IV pili (T4P) to participate in diverse
behaviors including surface sensing, biofilm formation, virulence, protein secretion and …

The human gastrointestinal tract, boasting the most diverse microbial community, harbors
approximately 100 trillion microorganisms comprising viruses, bacteria, fungi, and archaea …

CNS infections continue to rise in incidence in conjunction with increases in
immunocompromised populations or conditions that contribute to the emergence of …

The skull, spine, meninges, and cellular barriers at the blood–brain and the blood–
cerebrospinal fluid interfaces well protect the brain and meningeal spaces against microbial …

Loss of endothelial integrity and vascular leakage are central features of sepsis
pathogenesis; however, no effective therapeutic mechanisms for preserving endothelial …

Bacterial virulence factors are attractive targets for the development of therapeutics. Type IV
pili, which are associated with a remarkable array of properties including motility, the …

Neisseria meningitidis utilizes type IV pili (T4P) to adhere to and colonize host endothelial
cells, a process at the heart of meningococcal invasive diseases leading to meningitis and …

Meningococcal meningitis is a severe central nervous system infection that occurs when
Neisseria meningitidis (Nm) penetrates brain endothelial cells (BECs) of the meningeal …

The pulmonary endothelial cell forms a critical semi-permeable barrier between the vascular
and interstitial space. As part of the blood-gas barrier in the lung, the endothelium plays a …