Next generation of non-mammalian blood-brain barrier models to study parasitic infections of the central nervous system

Abstract

Transmigration of neuropathogens across the bloodbrain barrier is a key step in the development of central nervous system infections, making it a prime target for drug development. The ability of neuropathogens to traverse the blood-brain barrier continues to inspire researchers to understand the specific strategies and molecular mechanisms that allow them to enter the brain. The availability of models of the blood-brain barrier that closely mimic the situation in vivo offers unprecedented opportunities for the development of novel therapeutics. © 2012 Landes Bioscience.